Amid the nice wee heatwave we were treated to a week or so ago, we thought it timely to issue the sobering reminder that while drinking alcohol outdoors in a public space in Glasgow is banned, the same isn't true for our sister city Edinburgh.
There have been calls for the "outdated" byelaw to be scrapped, or changed to mirror 'the Edinburgh rule' - where a person consuming alcohol in a public place is only guilty of an offence if they “fail to desist” when asked to do so by a police officer.
Among those calling for it to be binned is Glasgow MSP Paul Sweeney, who tweeted that "Glaswegians should be able to drink alcohol responsibly in city parks and other appropriate public places".
Yet the byelaw appears to be here to stay for the foreseeable, after Glasgow City Council's admission back in June of 2020 that, not only are there no plans to relax the bylaw but that any attempt to remove it would be a "complex and lengthy process".
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As you might expect, Glaswegians voiced their opinions on the issue in their numbers, and it's safe to say the response was a mixed one. Here's what some had to say:
Anna Sullivan - "Sick of this nanny state - let people live".
Derek Bruce - "If you live in a flat. You can't go to the park and do this because of all the utter b*****s getting leathered and causing chaos. Maybe concentrate on the b*****s and let normal people have a picnic and a few beers."
Vanessa Fletcher - "Not a complicated administrative procedure.... Can't they trust people? Nanny State strikes again, then we ask why there are binge drinking problems here..."
Lynn Spencer - "Can’t say it bothers me. Better than being surrounded by shouting, fighting, loud mouths."
Sandra Kennedy Owen - "What a good idea. People are too irresponsible and there are too many alcohol related serious crimes these days."
Alan Hetherington - "You don't need alcohol to enjoy Glasgows open spaces. Have a nice coffee or soft drink, go to the pub if you want a bevvy."
Kevin Francis Ireland - "Too many wee dafties in Glasgow who can't handle their booze and will start a fight with the universal cry of "You lookin' at me, pal?"
Campbell Buckeridge - "We all have a responsibility to break ridiculous laws. Cheers everyone and enjoy the sun."
David Wharrie - "No return to the bad old days - if you want a drink go to a pub or a beer garden or your own garden. Public parks are family spaces, lots of folk drinking too much and bein lairy in front o kids isn’t right - and it’s intimidating for everyone else."
Davey McVey - "It makes the council money and it's another way of dictating to people what they can and can't do."
Mark Lain - "It's a terrible decision allow people to be responsible and it only punished the ones who are as the others don't care and do it anyway."
Pamela Tamburello - "Once you live in other countries you realise Scotlands true epidemic is alcohol abuse. Drinking outdoors shouldn't be a problem. Drinking till you are belligerent is. In many countries theres no law against drinking outside because people don't have alcohol issues. Sad really.
Ruth McLeod - "Do they really think that stops people?!! My local parks are always full of people in the summer with beer and wine. You just stick it in a plastic juice bottle. They’re not gonna stop every person and sniff their drink. As long as people behave, don’t think the police give a monkeys."
