Chris Maclean: teenage kicks

Last Friday night was my daughter's birthday. She wanted a party here.

Under the new licensing regime the traditional venue of the village hall for providing for such opportunities for parties and family get-togethers has almost been destroyed. It isn't viable to get a temporary event notice and the complexity of village hall licensing almost rules it out without consideration. The whole TEN concept is so staggeringly ill thought out and inept. I challenge anyone to demonstrate the benefits of such incompetent legislation.

Anyway, my daughter's party was here, initially. Part of me is proud that she chose here as a place to celebrate this event, but part of me is troubled by the possibility that my regulars, comfortable in a tranquil and safe pub, were going to be subjected to the disruption of noisy teenagers.

They all came dressed as pirates and it seemed quite jolly and respectable. The guests, while young, seemed restrained and drank modestly. By around half past nine they left and caught the train to the local city where they could party at a club into the early hours.

It wasn't until after they had gone that my naivety was fully apparent. The group who were enjoying themselves drinking colas on the seats outside had left empty half bottles of cheap vodka in the flower beds. Those in the bar had hidden an empty bottle of Southern Comfort under the seats.

I believe I run a sound business. I think I am on top of any drug problems here. We have no history of bad behaviour or violence. So I am genuinely shocked when I get surprised like this. They behaved well enough but, apart from missing out on the possible sales opportunity, I had no control over their behaviour and no idea they had drunk so much. I feel cheated.

Maybe this is a town phenomenon. Maybe, in a village like the one I used to be in, such behaviour is less likely. But it just shows how vigilant I must be.