Publicans in the north east have called for a mandatory Pub Watch scheme in Scotland to ensure landlords don’t try and put profit over a commitment to keeping pubs safe for drinkers.
Members of the North Aberdeenshire Licensing Forum are today due to send a letter to health secretary Shona Robison asking her to make the Pub Watch scheme a necessity for all premises.
The scheme encourages pubs and clubs to work together to stamp out anti-social behaviour in pubs and bars with those barred from one member bar banned from them all.
However, a leading north-east publican has claimed some venues are flouting the initiative in favour of bringing in trade.
Dennis Forsyth, who runs the Cheers bar in Fraserburgh – which last month was named Scotland’s friendliest pub – said last night: “The Pub Watch scheme can be very beneficial, if everyone’s singing from the same hymn sheet. Every single bar must be included.
“There are pubs which have deliberately not joined the Pub Watch scheme so they don’t have to bar people, meaning they can get them into their pubs.
“That doesn’t seem too bad, until you look at it as a professional. These barred people have friends who will then leave Pub Watch bars to go elsewhere to drink.”
“I understand people are reluctant to have people banned from their business, particularly when they’ve done something wrong in another pub besides their own.
He added: “Pub Watch is one aspect of being socially responsible, alongside working with the police and operating CCTV. It all goes hand in hand.”
Premises signed up to Pub Watch work closely with Police Scotland to crack down on offenders, and the force has praised participants.
Sergeant Sam Buchan, of the Divisional Violence Reduction Unit, said: “The Pub Watch initiative has proved very successful wherever it’s been rolled out across the region.
“There is no room for violence or anti-social behaviour in pubs and our close partnership with the Pub Watch licensed premises helps ensure that these venues are safe and enjoyable places for all.”
The request to make membership of the Pub Watch scheme mandatory for licensees comes amid concerns about the drinking culture in the region.
Last month, councillors called for the Scottish Government to enforce a blanket drinking ban on town centre public spaces to replace existing bylaws.