Confusion on pub rules has price: Claim

● Licensing board head points to Scottish guidelines in wake of Aberdeen lockdown

The head of Aberdeen licensing board last night claimed “confusion” over social distancing rules inside pubs and bars has contributed to reinstated lockdown rules in the city.

Councillor Marie Boulton insisted she was not “playing the blame game” while suggesting frailties in Scottish Government guidelines were at fault for the spike in coronavirus cases.

Restrictive measures, including the closure of bars, restaurants and cafes, were enforced in Aberdeen last night as 54 people testing positive for the virus were traced through the city’s nightspots.

Nearly 30 premises had been contacted by Test and Protect contact tracing teams.

Last night the licensing convener told The P&J: “I don’t think blaming anyone is the way forward, but people are telling us there is confusion.

“With things like social distancing inside – reduced to 3ft – there are additional things you must put in place such as face coverings.

“I think some people have missed that point and, where you have differences in interpretation at different premises, you have to ask: Is it clear enough?”

Pushed as to why the confusion she claimed was rife in the licensed trade nationwide was yet to bring lockdown back to other major cities, Mrs Boulton replied “yet”.

She added: “You say it’s just Aberdeen but I think you will find there are other places (with problems). That’s certainly what we are hearing from our environmental health officers.”

Mrs Boulton said there was little the council could have done differently without a change in the law.

Many pubs and restaurants have applied for occasional licences to open up beer gardens and outside areas – which are dealt with by council officials.

Elected councillors only have a say on those applications if a statutory body, such as police or the NHS, objects.

The independent councillor said: “As much as we may feel alcohol and the pandemic don’t mix, we can only work with the guidance of the Scottish Government.

“We have been encouraged to be flexible with the licensed trade to encourage them to open up outdoor spaces.

“We have gone on the requests of the Scottish Government to reduce hurdles for businesses, and unfortunately you have to ask if there was enough of a process put in nationally to protect the public.”

SNP opposition group leader Stephen Flynn said he was shocked at Mrs Boulton’s claims.

He said: “I’m genuinely at a loss in respect of these outbursts. I don’t recall council leaders shouting ‘confusion’ from the rooftops as they approved application after application. In fact, I heard nothing at all apart from Douglas Lumsden agitating quite vocally for pubs to open.

“What we badly need right now is a grown-up response, with the council as licensing authority working directly with the licensed trade, police and Scottish Government to ensure public health prevails.

“The people of Aberdeen do not need this pettiness.”

Environmental health officers had been planning to hold seminars with various licensed premises in the coming days to explain how they could comply with the distancing rules.

It follows widespread outrage in the north-east after significant queues of people waiting for entry to city bars.

The photos showed crowds of people seemingly acting in the face of distancing guidance, and prompted the first minister to say seeing them made her “want to cry”.

Mrs Boulton confirmed environmental health officers had already visited the premises on Monday to look into the breaches of the rules.

The Scottish Government was given the opportunity to comment on Mrs Boulton’s comments.

“I’m genuinely at a loss in respect of these outbursts”

Facing the new restrictions is Kevin McKenzie of the Grill on Union Street