This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Public drinking ban in Shetland
22/02/2007
Shetland Islands Council has been given permission by the Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson to introduce a ban on the public consumption of alcohol within Lerwick, from 2 March this year.
Ms Jamieson said:
"Public drinking is often a nuisance and can greatly hamper the quality of life for residents in a particular area. The 29 councils that have such byelaws in force have paid testimony to their effectiveness in reducing the nuisance and disorder commonly associated with public drinking. I will continue to support other councils that come forward with similar byelaw proposals."
Following a successful experiment in the use of byelaws to prohibit drinking in designated parts of Galashiels, Motherwell and Dundee, other local authorities were invited in 1993 to submit proposals for similar byelaws under powers contained in the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.
To date 29 local councils across Scotland already have such byelaws, covering more than 480 towns and villages, together with the built up areas within the city of Glasgow.