'Vertical drinking' curbs planned

Owners of large pubs will have to provide seating for at least a quarter of their patrons under new guidelines proposed by Perth and Kinross council.

The authority also plans to continue its ban on drinking alcohol at pavement tables unless it is with a meal.

The council is inviting public comment on its draft policy statement, which has been published on its website.

The document also contains plans to employ a number of licensing standards officers to enforce the new regulations.

Anti-social behaviour

The draft policy states how the council will take into account under-age drinking, public drunkenness and violent and anti-social behaviour when awarding alcohol licences.

On standing at bars, it said: "The licensing board is concerned about so-called vertical drinking establishments.

"Particular attention will be paid to any applications for a premises licence where large numbers of patrons will be provided in the premises or part of the premises only with standing accommodation.

"The licensing board will expect all such premises to accommodate patrons with a minimum of 25% seating space."

"Licensees and their staff are expected to have sufficient measures in place to prevent such problems arising"
Draft policy statement

In the document, the council proposes to keep its policy on pavement cafes, where alcohol can only be served with a meal, which does not include "snacks, sandwiches and crisps".

Pub owners are also asked to take steps to tackle problems caused by smoking outside their premises.

The document said this includes "noise nuisance, litter, disorder, and smoke drift into neighbouring residences or back into the licensed premises".

It also states: "Licensees and their staff are expected to have sufficient measures in place to prevent such problems arising."

Perth and Kinross Council's licensing board said it is "concerned about the link between the consumption of alcohol and public health".

The public have been given until 19 September to comment on the proposed licensing policy.

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