A campaign to ban the sale of cold beers and miniature bottles of alcohol has stepped up a gear.

The Police Eastern Division Consultative Committee has written to a host of groups and politicians, including Community and Cultural Affairs Minister Yvette Swan, in a bid to stop grocery shops, convenience stores and supermarkets selling some forms of alcohol.

Committee chairman W.A. (Toppy) Cowen said: "I want to emphasise one important paragraph in the letter -- `Let's not get confused with al fresco dining.

"`Controlled drinking in a confined area such as a private home, club or restaurant is totally dissimilar to a six-pack or quick fix stimulant on the run.''' Mr. Cowen said the problem was a double one -- the social impact of drinking in public and the problems created by litter.

He added: "There is a social impact and an environmental one. We have to be concerned about what is happening when these bottles are being tossed away and out of car windows.

"It's a double whammy approach we are getting on this thing. It's totally unacceptable and I don't know why we have tolerated this all these years.'' Senior Magistrate Will Francis revealed earlier this month that the Island's liquor laws were in the process of being amended. He was speaking after receiving a letter on the issue from Mr. Cowen.

Mr. Cowen said yesterday he had also written to Keep Bermuda Beautiful, the Tourism Ministry and the Bermuda Hotels Association in a bid to drum up support for a change in the law.

He added: "John Harvey of the BHA said the association will be discussing this at executive level. I'm not saying they totally agree with us, but there is a concern there.'' Mr. Cowen said: "We have no argument with drinking in homes and hotels -- what we want to discourage is this practice where people buy these things intending to consume them as quickly as possible.'' Mr. Francis told The Royal Gazette earlier this month that he had tried to address the issue of miniatures some years ago from the bench -- but that his decisions had been appealed. He added that only legislation would be effective in combating the problem.

One liquor merchant privately backed Mr. Cowen's call for changes in the way alcohol is sold.

But others said that miniatures particularly were useful because they allowed people to sample a product before buying a full bottle, while cold beers were regarded as a convenience by people who wanted to drink at home.

They admitted, however, that both forms of alcohol were open to abuse, which they did not condone.

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