MSP wants end to ‘ anti- working class’ ban on outdoor drinking
AGLASGOW MSP is supporting calls for a change to the c i t y ’ s “anti- working class” outdoor drinking ban. Labour MSP Paul Sweeney believes a byelaw banning the drinking of alcohol in public places is “discriminatory against working- class communities”.
We previously reported a petition was started on Tuesday to “end Glasgow’s anti- working class ‘ no drinking in public places’ byelaw”.
The petition, which was started by PhD student Gavin Brewis, has already received almost 700 signatures.
The byelaw which is in place prohibits the “consumption of alcoholic liquor in designated places”.
However, Sweeney says he believes the laws are from a “bygone era” and says it is “absurd” that people in Glasgow are not able to drink alcohol in public places such as parks.
He said: “These byelaws are not only from a bygone era, but are totally discriminatory against workingclass communities, many of whom have no access to private outdoor spaces.
“More than 70% of Glaswegians live in flats and on the odd occasion Glasgow experiences a sunny day, they have no option other than to head to a public park to enjoy the weather.
“It is absurd that they are not allowed to drink alcohol while they do, even though people in other cities across Scotland can.
“It’s 2023, it’s time Glasgow started acting like it and abolish or amend these byelaws.”
Brewis says he decided to start the petition as he feels the current byelaw restricts “a lot of the working class folk within Glasgow”.
He explained: “I feel the byelaw is anti- working class and it affects disproportionately the poorest in society as they can’t afford the local amenities, pubs, clubs and restaurants.
“Unlike some of the other classes, a lot of [ working class] people don’t tend to have big gardens, they tend not to have the money right now especially with the cost of living crisis to go to pubs, bars, restaurants, so they’re alienated and isolated from using the amenities which are local to them.
“So when it comes to the sunshine, they’re forced to stay in the house or spend more money going to the pub.
“If you look at another major city, Edinburgh, they have that freedom to go and drink in their local pub and things like that because it is seen as a more affluent city.”
Brewis, who lives in the city’s Southside, says he would support the byelaw being amended, rather than completely removed, with the ban on drinking alcohol being lifted in some public places such as parks.
He said: “Walking about the street for example, I’m not bothered about that, but what we could do is have certain parks across the city where people are able to go and have a couple of drinks and make sure they’re taking their rubbish away.
“They could also ban glass bottles so they’re not getting smashed, keeping it purely to cans and plastic bottles.”
He added: “It’s also ridiculous the feedback saying it’s going to need more policing.
“Anybody that has been to a park in the summer will see the parks are already loaded with police.”
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said the byelaw remains in place until 2029 before it requires to be reviewed after it was retained in 2019.
They said a 2019 household survey found 83% of people in the city supported the ban and Police Scotland supported the retention of the byelaw.
The spokesperson said: “In 2019 our household survey indicated 83% of people in the city were supportive of the ban.
“Police Scotland also supported the retention of byelaw as in their view it provided great assistance in combating violence, disorder and underage alcohol consumption.
“To change the byelaw before it next comes up for review, a lengthy democratic process must be undertaken and there are currently no plans to start that process.
“In line with the relevant legislation, enforcement of the byelaw is a matter for the police.”