Edinburgh pub bids to open the doors to kids
By Jacob Hughes
A Scottish pub chain wants to allow 12-year-olds to be able to grab a meal without the presence of an adult.
Hospitality company, Signature Pubs, is seeking licensing permission from Edinburgh Council to allow children as young as 12 to be able enter pubs without an adult.
In Scotland, children aged 16 or above can enter a pub unaccompanied and order a meal or soft drink. The company is hoping to extend the licence to allow children between 12 and 15 to have the same privileges in their venues. Children would be required to show proof of age, with either a Young Scot Card or passport.
Calton Hill - Edinburgh l image by Westend61 via gettyimages
Caroline Loudon, a licensing solicitor representing Signature Pubs, said: “It offers an accessible space for children to start going out without parents or guardians, but with the checks and balances you'd want for your own family.
"These are family-friendly venues with well-trained staff.”
The proposed change is targeted towards children coming home from school, being able to get their dinner and keep warm ahead of the cold winter.
Another company representative said: "The proposal is for the children to come in for a meal or a hot chocolate after school."
The company says that they will limit the group to a max of six children, with a limit of 21 young people per venue and if there is misbehaviour, they will be treated like everyone else and told to leave.
Loudon said: “We would deem it the same way we would with anybody and ask them to leave. It’s a case of monitoring the situation and policing it as we do with any situation.”
Signature Pubs have multiple venues across Scotland, with the Spiritualist in Glasgow. Could this change be something that is introduced in Glasgow?
Ashton Lane in Glasgow l image by Georgeclerk via gettyimages
David, 57, from Maryhill, said: “As long as they are behaving [and] not being sold booze, I don’t have a problem.”
Erica, 29, from Glasgow’s West End, said, “I don’t think we should be inviting children to an environment centred around alcohol.
“This will probably make them more inclined to try alcohol.”
Councillors have postponed their decision until they are able to inspect the premises.