Council blames vertical drinking for alcohol-fuelled trouble

Scottish councils have been accused by trade leaders of hijacking the 2005 Licensing Act to enforce a narrow view of how pubs should operate.

Edinburgh is set to follow the lead of Perth and Kinross councils and cut opening hours and impose limits on how many people can stand with their drinks in the city’s many pubs and bars, according to the Evening News.

Council leaders believe a direct link exists between places that encourage vertical drinking, standing with a pint, and alcohol-fuelled trouble and will today publish proposals to tackle this as part of their alcohol licensing plan required for the forthcoming start of the Act.

However, Paul Waterson, chairman of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association told the Evening News: “The stuff about vertical drinking sounds ridiculous and it is ridiculous. The theory is if people are standing in pubs they are more likely to cause trouble. We don’t believe that.”

Curbs aren’t the only thing pubs and bars have to worry about with those opening late in Scotland already facing the prospect of having charges for late-night policing slapped on them by Scotland’s ruling Scottish National Party. 

The Scottish Licensing Act 2005 is set to come into force towards the end of 2009.

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By Chris Druce

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