St Andrews University students can now stay out drinking for longer at their union during the week.
The union on St Mary’s Place, which is being refurbished, has been granted permission to keep its bar open until 2am seven days a week.
It previously opened until 2am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Solicitor Tom Johnston told Fife licensing board that other nightspots in the town opened late at the start of the week.
“The purpose of the application is to ask for a level playing field,” he said.
He argued the union provided a supervised environment for young drinkers, highlighting the work of stewards on the premises who make sure students get home safely at night.
“There is very much a duty of care,” he said. “There are some people who get a wee bit silly, and sometimes people just need that extra bit of care.
“They make sure that people leaving the students’ association get taxis. In some cases people get a lift back to their accommodation if they need it.
“It’s making sure that if a student is being a bit daft and has gone too far, that they will get home safely. It’s either that or go somewhere else where profit is more important than the duty of care referred to.
“Society has changed, and the opening hours of other establishments in St Andrews reflect that.”
Licensing board member Andrew Rodger moved for refusal and was backed by Lawrence Brown.
Mr Rodger said: “Students are there to study and get qualifications. To encourage them to drink more hours than they already do, I don’t know if the principal or chancellor of the university would be happy with us taking that forward.”
Bill Connor moved approval, seconded by Tom Adams. The variation to the licence was approved by three votes to two.
The students’ association building is undergoing a £12 million overhaul over three years.
Once complete, the union will have a new theatre and music facilities, new bars and a modern headquarters for university societies. The union will remain open throughout the refurbishment.