A UNI town where King Charles once studied is cracking down on booze after residents complained about being menaced by “drunken men”.
Locals told The Sun they back an extension to a ban on street drinking saying the seaside town had been blighted by antisocial drunks.
Aberystwyth University, previously the University College of , famously hosted for a single 10-week-term in 1969.
He studied Welsh lanuage and Welsh to prepare for his formal investiture as the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle.
But the town had been branded the ““, along with Cardigan and Lampeter, after reports of drunken men nd wolf-whistling.
The council has now slapped on Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs), which allow the banning of drinking alcohol in designated public areas.
Under restrictions, it is an offence to ignore a or authorised officer’s request to stop drinking or to surrender .
Failure to comply with the rules can warrant an on-the-spot Fixed Penalty Notice of £100, which can be extended to a maximum fine of £1,000.
Ceris, a 19 year-old student, is one of many at who were celebrating after the local council first slapped a ban on drinking in public.
Ceris said: “There’s nothing I like more after lectures or studying in the library than lacing up and running around the town, especially along the promenade because it is so beautiful.
“But so often those runs have been spoiled by the behaviour of men under the influence of alcohol.
“They will be sitting outside or on the beach near the promenade and when I run by they’ll start wolf whistling.
“It feels really threatening and I am uncomfortable with it. Usually, I’ll make sure I’m on the other side of the road or even sometimes I’ve changed my route completely just to avoid them, but why should I?”
Her friend Lauryn, a 20-year-old geography student at the university, said: “Very often I won’t even go out now because of the way men behave when they’re drinking outside, away from the scrutiny of bar staff and doormen.
“I’ll just stay indoors at home and have a drink with my friends instead because it feels safer.
“It’s a really scary when you’re on your own and you have to walk past a group of men drinking.”
The Welsh town is known for its stunning sea-front and friendly atmosphere, but thanks to drinking culture, has left some areas a “no-go” zone at night.
Jackie, 74, said she would love to be spending a sunny afternoon in Aberystwyth drinking a large gin and tonic outdoors with magnificent sea views in front of her.
“But as always, a tiny minority of people, in this case drunken men, have spoiled it for all of us.
“If men can’t behave themselves properly when they’ve had a drink, then this has to be the way forward, unfortunately.“
Her husband, Paul, 76, agreed. He said: “Most men know how to behave themselves properly when they’ve had a drink, but some do get a bit too drunk and behave in an antisocial way.
“Anything that gives women greater protection when they’re out is good with me.”
And retired worker Colin, 65, said: “If you walk down to the beach on a sunny evening, you can see large groups of men congregating and drinking can after can of beer.
“That is incredibly intimidating for women and frankly it’s a public nuisance.
“Their behaviour is totally antisocial and it leaves a mess for others to clear up. Places like the beach or areas outside bars at night should never become no go areas for anybody. Well done to the council.”
According to Alun Williams, councillor for Aberystwyth Morfa a Glais, “drunk men were dominating the centre of Aberystwyth” before the ban, creating a “wild west intimidating atmosphere”.
In the past year, Dyfed-Powys Police Local Commander said it recorded a “relatively low number of recorded incidents” where was a contributing factor to incidents
Despite the lowering incidence, members recently unanimously backed the extension in all three towns, with Williams continuing: “Let’s not throw away a policy that is working and has clear support.”
The council has further said that the will continue to be regularly reviewed in line with key stakeholders and analysis of police data.
