A former Fife publican has cast doubt on the need for some areas to have alcohol bylaws after the council’s decision to extend the places covered by legislation last week.
Jim Kenyon, who owned the Albert Tavern in Freuchie from 2000 to 2006, believes communities should have the final say on whether bylaws prohibiting drinking in public places are required following an apparent divide over the issue in nearby Falkland.
His comments come after Fife Council agreed to include Falkland on the list of designated areas covered by bylaws, along with Auchtermuchty, Ceres, Crombie, Gateside and Strathmiglo.
But while many residents have supported the bylaws in their aim to curb anti-social behaviour, a large number feel they are not needed due to the fact there hasn’t been a particular problem involving drinking in the past.
Mr Kenyon, who sold the pub six years ago, is very much in the latter category and was instrumental in successfully fighting such a ban in Freuchie several years ago.
”When I used to own the Albert Tavern they (the council) wanted to put the alcohol ban in here in Freuchie,” he said. ”We had to say to them: ‘Why do you want to bring it in here?’ and they said there would be youths coming from all around if we didn’t.
”The legislation that came out from the Scottish Office clearly states bylaws should be used only in areas that you have a persistent problem, and there wasn’t one in Freuchie.
”They tried to bring it in again a few years later but again we had to ask them what had changed from before? The answer was nothing.
”All it’s going to do is stop people from having a drink outside the pub or sitting on the cricket pitch enjoying a drink, while the police do not have the resources to be able to police these new acts,” Mr Kenyon added.
”The bylaws don’t affect me, but all I want is for people to think about it and not be like sheep and be led around.”
He also expressed surprise at the decision to create an exemption for Auchtermuchty, where the rules will be relaxed in the first week of August during the Auchtermuchty Festival.
”It’s a mismatch that’s the time you are more likely to get problems,” he added.
The area procurator fiscal is understood to have expressed concern at difficulties that can be caused by exemptions but is said to be ”content” with the proposal.
Any objections to the proposed bylaws must be made in writing to Scottish ministers within a month.