King Charles' Former University Town Implements Street Drinking Ban

Aberystwyth, the Welsh town where King Charles studied for a term before his investiture as Prince of Wales, has enacted a ban on street drinking to address what officials describe as "wild west" anti-social behavior. The measure, implemented following a trial period, will remain in effect for three years.

The town, which Charles attended in 1969, saw young men who were reportedly drinking in public spaces accused of "dominating" the town center and creating an "intimidating" atmosphere for visitors and patrons of its more than 30 pubs. During his time there, Charles resided in Pantycelyn university halls and has previously expressed having "special memories" of the town.

Under the new Public Space Protection Order, police are empowered to confiscate alcohol from individuals drinking in public outside licensed premises. Aberystwyth councillor Alun Williams stated that the ban was necessary because "drunk men were dominating the centre of Aberystwyth," creating an intimidating environment where police were limited in their ability to intervene until an offense occurred.

Ceredigion councillor Matthew Vaux cited evidence supporting the ban, noting that Dyfed-Powys Police recorded seven incidents in the preceding 12 months where street drinking was identified as a contributing factor. He also relayed advice from the Dyfed-Powys Police Local Commander, who indicated that a low number of recorded incidents could make it challenging to justify renewing the order if such evidence was not central to the application.

King Charles's studies in Aberystwyth were part of his preparation for his investiture as Prince of Wales. He was tutored in the Welsh language by Dr. Edward Millward, founder of the Welsh Language Society. His time in the town was not without incident; he faced protests from nationalists and recalled an experience during his first public speech at the Urdd Eisteddfod, a Welsh language youth festival, where demonstrators disrupted his address.

Charles has spoken about his time in Aberystwyth, remarking on the protests and counter-demonstrations he encountered. He also reflected on his efforts to learn Welsh, acknowledging the difficulty of acquiring a language in a single term. He stated that his period in Aberystwyth significantly enhanced his understanding of Wales and fostered an "immense sense of real community."