Chris Maclean: who's to blame for misbehaviour?

One of our local pubs, rarely out of the limelight for the problems associated with it, has new managers. They are making a real attempt to regenerate the business and there seems to be no shortage of ideas. It is refreshing to see new initiatives to encourage customers. Excellent.

Last night they held an under-18s disco until 10.30. Two door supervisors on duty meant there were no problems there and it looked like they had a successful night judging by the number of young people hanging around.

But this morning we saw the legacy of their triumph. All the wonderful daffodils in the planters were beheaded. Plant pots overturned. Broken glass. Shrubs uprooted.

Was it the disco that caused the damage? Was it the licensee's fault?

The chances are that this damage was the result of one or two idiots. Is it fair to punish everybody because of the actions of a few?

I would think it unlikely that the damage would have happened if there was no disco.

But how far can we take cause and effect?

Too often licensees distance themselves from the actions of their customers. If it happens outside of the front door or beyond then, clearly, they are not responsible.

Not so.

The sadness is that I have sometimes challenged people who have caused damage. They often remark how this is a crap town but utterly unable to make the connection that, by their own actions, they make it so. They cannot understand that they can be an agent for positive changes or, as they are at the moment, an agent for negative ones.

I can sit smugly and believe I don't contribute in a negative way to the fabric of the town because I don't have under 18's discos and I would be mortified if someone were to suggest my customers were the cause of last night's rampage. But I cannot be sure and, while I support and encourage other licensees to develop their businesses, do accept that as purveyors of alcohol the chances are we will all be collectively held to account and made to pay.

But I think some of the blame must also be elsewhere. In homes and schools. In peer groups and on television. We sell drinks. We don't make people behave badly.