Dry reception for Lanimer alcohol plan

THE Gazette understands that the one-day leeway to drink outdoors will not be the only old Lanimer tradition swept away during the 2015 celebrations.
Lanimer Days...of the future will be a lot 'drier' after the changesLanimer Days...of the future will be a lot 'drier' after the changes
Lanimer Days...of the future will be a lot 'drier' after the changes

As previously reported, the long debate over the Lanimer Day suspension of the by-law forbidding drinking alcohol in public places recently came to an end, with a victory for those wishing to dispense with it.

It was the police who led the way after complaining about the levels of “alcohol-fuelled violence” during the 2013 celebrations.

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During the debate, a compromise was offered to publicans of allowing a Lanimer Day-only extension of their ‘premises licence’ to allow customers to drink in the area immediately outside their bars, so cutting down on possible over-crowding inside.

However, the Gazette has now been told by a member of the Lanark licensed trade, who asked not to be named, that this compromise might not be one the publicans would find worth taking.

He said: “I have been told that this ‘temporary extension of premises’ will cover only the pavement outside the pub.

“Anyone who knows the layout of Lanark and where its pubs are will tell you that most are fronted by narrow pavements, some very narrow.

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“Outside some, you’d be able to squeeze less than 10 customers, so the reduction in crowding inside the premises would be minimal.”

For more on this story pick up a copy of this week’s Carluke and Lanark Gazette, which is in the shops now.

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