Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Public asked for views on booze
MEMBERS of the public are being asked for their views on alcohol licensing in Dundee.
A consultation has been launched by the city council to find out if locals think there are too many premises selling booze near them — and if so, in which areas.
They are also being asked which types of premises there is an overprovision of — such as bars, hotels or off-licences.
The responses will help shape a new overprovision policy by the council, which will help determine which applications for licensed premises should and which should not be approved.
Licensing board convener Councillor Stewart Hunter admitted there was no “one size fits all” approach to dealing with licensing concerns. He added: “We are really interested in finding out the views of the public on this.
“Regardless of what is decided, I would say that in general each application tends to be decided on an individual basis and there is scope for exceptions to be made.
“We understand, for example, that if people want to bring a business to Dundee, a big part of making that a success could be getting a liquor licence.”
Mr Hunter said that any new policy would help to improve the health and wellbeing of people in the city.
He said: “There is an argument that if you want to get alcohol in Dundee then you will, quite easily. However, the principle of the policy is to look at improving public health.
“Dundee, and indeed Scotland, has serious issues with alcohol, and we have to play a part in helping that.
“One other thing I would say is that when there was an overprovision policy, it meant the onus was on the applicant, which brought a high level of applications for licences.”
The council previously introduced an overprovision policy because of concerns from health chiefs about the availability of booze in the city.
It meant that the licensing board normally rejected any application for a new pub or off-licence unless the person behind it could prove that it wouldn’t add to the city’s health problems.
The Waterfront was the exception to the rule, with a raft of new venues set to open there in the coming years, while restaurants were normally approved because they sold food as well as alcohol.
However, the policy was thrown out last year after being called into question during a court hearing.
Sheriff Kevin Veal said the council had not consulted properly on the policy before it was introduced.
The sheriff was speaking as he ruled in favour of Aldi, which was appealing against a decision by the council not to grant a booze licence for its proposed new store at Myrekirk.
Until that point, the policy had led to several applications for new or extended licenced premises being knocked back.
The consultation is being held through the council’s website until November 24.