CAMRA slams Scottish licensing laws
Group calls for relaxed licensing laws across Scotland
Scotland's licensing laws are "unduly restrictive" according to a submission made by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) to the Scottish Executive.
CAMRA's submission said a relaxation in Scottish licensing laws, which were last reformed 25 years ago, would lead to less alcohol-related disorder and help change the binge-drinking culture.
Although pubs and bars in Edinburgh and Glasgow are often allowed to be open for very long hours, CAMRA claims licensing boards in other parts of the country are still refusing to give extensions.
Licensees should be allowed to open when they want, providing any potential disturbance is minimised, according to the consumer group.
The Scottish Executive is currently reviewing licensing hours through an independent commission which has asked for submissions on the subject.
CAMRA's submission, Time for Reform, called for the extension of permitted hours from 11pm to 1am and additionally on Sundays from 2.30pm to 6.30pm.
The report said: "Allowing licensees to open when they choose will enhance consumer choice and will allow people more flexibility about when they relax with a drink."
CAMRA believes this will cut binge-drinking and alcohol-related disorder.
The group's public affairs executive Jonathan Mail said: "We urge the Scottish Executive to consider the experience of the Isle of Man which saw a significant decline in alcohol-related disorder after abolishing permitted hours for pubs and clubs in July 2001.
"Reform will give consumers greater choice, boost the tourism trade and tackle the problem of alcohol-related disorder by phasing closing times and, in the longer term, by encouraging a more sensible approach to drinking."
The Scottish system of licensing - which replaced magistrates with councillors on licensing benches in 1976 - was the blueprint for the licensing white paper for England and Wales.
However, the Scottish Executive now feels it is time to look at its system again, with one of the proposals being to change licensing boards once more to include representatives from all walks of life.
In England and Wales, the trade has been told that the Government is still committed to licensing reform, including switching control to local authorities.
Tourism minister Kim Howells, who has responsibility for licensing, said he is lobbying for a bill, based on the White Paper, to be included in the Queen's Speech in autumn 2002.
