People are drinking alcohol most days of the week in the popular location of Dean Street despite it being declared an alcohol-free zone.

It has been suggested by some residents that police are “turning a blind eye” to the issue.

But that was yesterday refuted by Albury’s senior police officer, Supt Gary Commins, who said his officers were involved in a large number of tasks at any given time.

Supt Commins said the issue would be put on a list of “taskings” for officers and they will check when there is an opportunity.

Police have the power to confiscate alcohol and tip it out but fines do not apply.

Publicity last week about the drinking culture in central Albury with people walking the streets with alcohol sparked a visit by police in QEII Square.

Last Wednesday people with alcohol had it tipped out.

The following day the drinking fraternity avoided the location and the park was peaceful.

But on Monday, it was back to normal with people gathering to drink alcohol from late morning and into the afternoon.

It was a similar scenario on Tuesday with an early start and ongoing consumption of alcohol.

Two separate groups consumed alcohol and by about 1pm there was a confrontation near the court house between two members of the different gatherings.

Threats were made and one man with a walking stick avoided trouble by going north along Olive Street.

There was a raucous gathering of drinkers at the bus shelter by 2pm and some people tried to avoid the area.

One member of a visiting group on a bus expressed surprise that people were drinking and intoxicated in the centre of the city.

All was quiet on Wednesday, but some of the drinkers were back on Thursday.

Late in the morning, one man was drinking a bottle of beer in a brown paper bag and another drinking from a bottle hidden in a back pack.

Early yesterday morning there was just one drinker consuming a bottle of beer in a brown paper bag.

He wandered off down Dean Street, went south in Kiewa Street and continued his drinking on a seat outside Centro Albury.