New Pub Access Law Brings Cheer to Disabled Scots
A new law has been passed by the Scottish Parliament that will promotie better access to pubs and clubs north of the border.
The ‘Barred! Amendment’, part of the new Criminal Justice and Licensing Act, requires landlords to show how their premises can be accessed by disabled customers when they apply for a license.
The amendment is an important milestone in Capability Scotland’s Barred! campaign which aims to promote better access to pubs and clubs for disabled people.
The campaign was originally started by disability activist Mark Cooper, after he was forced to leave an Edinburgh pub mid-drink because there was no accessible toilet. He launched the Barred! facebook site which attracted support from disabled people across the country who had encountered similar experiences.
Mark Cooper
Capability adopted Barred! and, together with Mark, have taken the campaign to the Scottish Parliament. The amendment has been debated in parliament and was given legal backing by one of Scotland’s leading QCs, Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw.
The law will have significant implications for both disabled people and the licensed trade.
A recent Capability 1in4 Poll showed that almost 75% of disabled people experience access barriers when they go out to pubs and clubs in Scotland. Nearly half of respondents (46%) said they would not know where to find information about accessible licensed premises.
Capability’s Director of External Affairs, Richard Hamer, said: “These figures highlight how a lack of decent access information about licensed premises in Scotland is preventing disabled people from having a full and active social life. All too often Capability hears stories about people having to cut short their nights out when they find they can’t get into a pub or use the toilet after a few drinks.”
The ‘Barred! Amendment’ will ensure all license applicants will have to consider access at an early stage, and that access information will be easily available, so that people can plan a night out or other social event with absolute confidence.
George Foulkes MSP added: “This amendment is not anti-pub. In fact, it is quite the reverse. The Barred! campaign accepts that the licensed trade is struggling at the minute and that adaptations can be expensive or impossible to make due to planning regulations or listed building restrictions.
“This campaign works alongside the licensed trade and local authority license forums to improve the accessibility of pubs and clubs where possible and get the right information about the accessibility of venues into the hands of disabled people,” he added.
Jim Elder-Woodward, Convenor of the Independent Living in Scotland Project said: “People have a right to socialise and mix within the community. One in eight of us is disabled and one in four of us has some kind of affiliation with disabled people. That’s a large proportion of the population to bar by not providing suitable provision.”
James Adams, Campaigns Manager for RNIB Scotland added: “This legislation is an important milestone in creating an environment where everyone can enjoy fuller access to recreational facilities. Barriers to equality should be removed wherever they are found and I know this change will have significant benefits for blind and partially sighted people.”
