PEOPLE who cause problems in Huddersfield after drinking are to go back to the classroom.
Anyone who is issued with a penalty notice for drunk and disorderly behaviour in Kirklees may be offered the opportunity to halve their fines by attending an alcohol awareness course.
A penalty notice for drunk and disorderly behaviour normally carries an £80 fine, but this could be reduced to £40, only if the recipients agree to attend the new course.
The initiative has been developed in partnership between Kirklees Council, Public Health, West Yorkshire Police, Lifeline (Ontrak), the Yorkshire Ambulance Service and the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
The scheme is similar to the awareness course run by Kirklees Council which educates drivers caught speeding.
Alcohol awareness courses have already been hailed a success by a number of other police forces including Derbyshire, Hertfordshire, South Wales, Hampshire, Kent and Devon and Cornwall.
They have found that only 20% of people attending the courses re-offend.
People receiving the penalty notices would be referred to the alcohol awareness course through the police custody suite.
Troublemakers who go to courts will still face other punishments.
The course will cover topics such as the impact alcohol has on personal health, emergency services, hospitals and the economy.
It will take place every six weeks and there will be 20 places available on each, with the first course taking place this month.
Money from the penalty fines will be donated to local alcohol related charities and causes.
