Aberdeen might legalise public drinking

Aberdeen City Council will be looking at allowing people to drink on the street.

The meeting is on Tuesday to review the by-law which prevents people from drinking in public places

For more than ten years now, the consumption of alcohol has been banned from all public areas in Aberdeen.

Booze bus

Previously, the by-laws were only suspended for special occasions like the BP big screen events in Duthie Park, but when lifting the restriction for six weeks at the Christmas Village worked out so well, an SNP member David Cameron (no, not that one) put forward lifting the ban.

Cameron said, “I think we (the council) should speak to the police, let’s speak to the license holders, let’s talk to the public and find out if we’ve changed our attitudes.”

If the review will actually be approved, a process including the Police Scotland, NHS Grampian, our beloved clubs and pubs as well as us – the public  – would decide whether to change the legislation or not – this would take about six months.

We love public drinking

A positive result could mean that next year’s freshers would experience Aberdeen as a public drinking paradise.

Walking all the way from Crombie/Johnson to town is so much more fun if you have booze and distance from Hillhead could actually be bearable. Less money on taxis AND on pre-drinks – could it get any better?

A change in legislation could also mean that we would finally be allowed to take out our drinks in clubs smoking areas, and since we all know that the best place to start a conversation (ie pull) and meet people is outside, this would especially come handy for all the non-smokers.