'Irresponsible' punters warned not to go on covid 'booze cruises' from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight

The message has come from the leader of the Isle of Wight Council ahead of the first weekend of loosened coronavirus restrictions.

The island is one of a handful of Tier 1 areas in the UK, meaning people have more freedoms to enjoy a pint in the pub with friends.

But Councillor Dave Stewart said he was deeply alarmed to read online reports suggesting people might plan to set sail for the island for boozy parties.

‘Suggestions of so-called "booze cruises” visiting the Island are completely irresponsible and, I hope, ill-founded,’ he said.

‘We are working hard with the police and the ferry companies to put out messages that such behaviour is totally irresponsible and we will be supporting local businesses in managing any groups in a Covid-secure way that arrive with this intent.’

Portsmouth is in tier two, meaning households can’t mix indoors – and people may only sit in pubs with their own households.

In tier one, people can mix indoors and out so long as they follow the ‘rule of six’.

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