Police could ask for a by-law to be drawn up to stop people drinking in seafront shelters.
Visitors steer clear of Edith Road, Clacton, because groups of up to 15 people gather to smoke drugs and get drunk, according to traders.
Barry Shimell, of Edith Road, said: "People will not come down because of the drunks and the drug users.
"Visitors cross the road to get away from them. People don't report problems because there is no response from the police."
At a meeting of the police community consultative group meeting on Monday, Chief Insp Dave Hudson said: "There is no law about drinking in these shelters.
"I looked at introducing a by-law but there weren't enough complaints to justify it. If there has been a huge increase in complaints, I will look at it again."
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Wednesday, September 14, 2005
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