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Ban on public drinking
17/11/2008
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has given given two more councils permission to introduce a ban on the public consumption of alcohol in different areas from November 28.
Highland Council will impose the ban in Avoch, Broadford and Harrapool, Charleston and North Kessock, and Munlochy while Dumfries and Galloway Council will use it in Kelloholm and Kirkconnell, Sanqhar, and Thornhill.
The ban comes into force from November 28.
Mr MacAskill said:
"Public drinking is often a nuisance and can greatly hamper the quality of life for residents in a particular area. The 30 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 30 local councils across Scotland have such byelaws, which cover more than 480 towns and villages, together with the built up areas within the city of Glasgow.