A MOTHER sitting outside a school drinking from a can of lager while waiting to pick up her child has caused outrage.
The unidentified parent was photographed at shortly after 3pm drinking outside Macaulay Primary Academy.
The woman, who was also smoking, was pictured sitting on railings opposite a man who was in charge of a pram in Macaulay Street, Grimsby.
It is understood they were waiting to pick up their child.
Another parent took the photo and sent it in to the Grimsby Telegraph.
They said: "I am disgusted to see a parent drinking while collecting a child outside school gates. Children being exposed to this kind of behaviour will start to believe it is acceptable if something isn't done to stop this in the future.
"Isn't it an offence to drink in public at this time?"
The woman's actions have been condemned by Macaulay Primary Academy headteacher Julie Saunders.
She said: "Clearly this is not the sort of thing we want to see outside the school; it is not a good example.
"It is the first time this has happened. I have spoken to the parents about it and have had a positive response.
"If there are any more reports like this, I shall be speaking to the PCSOs for the area."
Mrs Saunders highlighted the rules for parents dropping off and collecting children from the school.
She explained: "I do not allow smoking on our site and I have a code of conduct for parents because they come into the school. There is a level of behaviour which is not accepted.
"We do not allow smoking and there is no shouting or swearing or physical abuse and parents are not allowed to come in under the influence of drink or drugs."
North East Lincolnshire Council's portfolio holder for education, Councillor Ian Lindley, who is also a West Marsh councillor, said: "We don't like to dictate to parents about smoking and drinking, but they have to be reasonable where they do it. We are always trying to promote healthy lifestyles, particularly with children.
"Drinking in public, which we see a lot of on the West Marsh, is a difficult issue. All we can do is try to discourage people because it sends out the wrong message to young people that it is somehow socially acceptable."
The incident came as the Association of Police Chiefs launched a campaign against drinking in public and antisocial behaviour.
They claimed about half of alcohol-related incidents resulted in violence.
Humberside Police said they are carrying out increased patrols and intended naming and shaming people as part of the campaign.
The Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside, Matthew Grove, said: "The clear message has to be that those who drink too much need to take responsibility for their own actions and this is something I will be working to address.
"In the cold light of day, many of the people I have seen behaving badly because of drink should feel embarrassed by their actions, and we must find ways to ensure the embarrassment lasts longer than the hangover."
Only people over the age of 18 can drink in public, except in areas of towns where a designated public place order is in place.
If an area has an order, police officers have special powers to order a person to stop drinking alcohol in public and confiscate it.
Police can take away alcohol or move on under-18s if they have been drinking anywhere.
More than one in ten deaths of people in their 40s are from liver disease, most are from alcoholic liver disease.
For alcohol-related advice and information, visit www.thinkb4udrink.org
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