Bans from pubs and social events could be alternative to prison, minister says Criminals could be banned from pubs, sports grounds and social events under proposals being considered as alternatives to prison, a minister has said. Sarah Sackman, the courts minister, told the Guardian that such exclusions, as well as mandatory work for offenders, were “very much part of the mix” under a review of sentencing being conducted by the former Conservative Lord Chancellor David Gauke.