Hackney Council has approved a ban on anti-social drinking in public spaces throughout the borough.

People found drinking alcohol in the streets by police could have their booze confiscated or be forced to pay a fixed penalty notice of £50, under new restrictions coming into force on 24 May.

The controlled drinking zone was approved at Monday evening’s meeting of the council’s cabinet by a unanimous vote.

Councillors said that the move is not intended to punish people drinking peacefully, and that it will be up to police officers to decide whether or not to take action against individuals.

Councillor Karen Alcock, Hackney’s Deputy Mayor said: “It doesn’t stop people from sitting on their own and having a beer – that’s not what the powers are there to do.

“It’s for the persistent drinkers who’re shouting and intimidating people, and giving police the power to deal with them.”

However doubts remain over the effects the new powers will have upon Hackney’s bars and restaurants, which provide a large number of jobs.

Asked if the powers will deter people from coming to Hackney to enjoy themselves, councillor Alan Laing offered a blunt “no”.

He said that the powers were designed to allow police intelligence to better target potential troublemakers in Hackney’s neighbourhoods and intervene before problems occur.

Hackney saw 5563 violent attacks in September 2009, 40 per cent of which could be blamed on alcohol, according to police reports.

Hackney is the sixth London borough to ban drinking in public spaces, following Camden, Brent, Lambeth, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Kensington and Chelsea.

The borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, which instigated similar policing powers in November 2006, found that emergency calls related to drunken vagrants fell by half in the year after the powers were approved.