Young Scots face a pubs lock-out

AMINI Electric wrapped in 2,000 Christmas lights is to begin a five-week tour of the UK later this month to raise money for three charities.

Nicholas “Nico” Martin, 32, a software engineer from Bracknell, Berkshire, has been wrapping his car in festive lights since 2017, and has been loaned a Mini Electric by the car manufacturer for this year’s tour.

He is hoping to raise £50,000 for the MS Trust, Duchenne UK and

AROUND one-third of young adults face being locked out of Scotland’s pubs and restaurants in the run-up to Christmas if Covid vaccine passports are extended.

With a decision looming on possible new restrictions, it has emerged the Scottish Government’s own evidence paper shows 31% of 18 to 29-year-olds would not have the required certification to visit a wider range of venues at the start of December.

Business leaders fear new rules could create a new “economic lockdown” which risks derailing the recovery of many firms.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is due to announce today whether the Scottish Government will introduce tighter rules to curb growing coronavirus cases.

Vaccine passports, designed to prove a person has had two Covid19 vaccinations, were introduced last month for people attending nightclubs and some large-scale events. The scheme could soon be extended to include other venues, such as theatres, cinemas, restaurants and pubs.

A Scottish Government report said extending the certification scheme was the least restrictive of measures the government could bring in, compared to re-introducing capacity limits on venues, curfews or completely closing events.

The report also states 88.1% of the adult population would have received two doses in time to be eligible for the certificate on December 1.

But that proportion falls to 77.6% for those in their 30s, and to 69% of those aged 18 to 29.

Russell Borthwick, pictured, chief executive of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: “Businesses have been clear that vaccine certification acts as an economic deterrent, placing additional cost on businesses with no additional support from government to help them meet the costs, and there remains little evidence that the scheme is effective in reducing transmission.”

Deputy First Minister John Swinney has said the current passport scheme was “working well”, and had been downloaded for use more than 1.5 million times.

However, nightclubs and other late-night businesses have reported a drop in footfall and revenue since the passport initiative was introduced, with some highlighting losses of almost 50%.