Barwatch Scheme in Thurso or Wick

[Rheghead]

In my hometown, there are a lot of pubs and when I was in my teens and twenties there was a lot of trouble with drunkeness and fighting etc, it was a hard working town. But the landlords got together with the police and formed a Barwatch scheme. In essence, if a punter is convicted of violent behavior towards a member of staff or customer in a pub then it is considered to be the same act against ALL the staff and customers in ALL the pubs in town. If you are on the list then you are banned from all pubs and restaurants in the town. All the landlords have a list of names which is publically displayed and photos of everyone on the list which are held out of sight. I am very surprised that there isn't the same scheme operating in Wick or Thurso.

Since this scheme has been operating, my hometown has been transformed into a 'festival' town and a holiday destination and the trouble is a fraction of what it was before..

I would be in favor of this as it would have a greater economic impact on Caithness than just making the pubs a safe place to go and socialise, btw the scheme's motto is Behave or be Banned!!

What are your thoughts, could such a scheme work or be made to work here?

[Metalattakk]

A slightly different "BarWatch" scheme was certainly in operation 15 years ago in Thurso. Posters on pub walls advertising it etc.

The deal was that if you, as a pub, suffered any trouble you'd telephone two pubs on your list, and they would then 'phone two more etc., etc. so within minutes, all the pubs would be aware of the presence of troublemakers. As a barman back in those days I distinctly remember the two pubs I was detailed to 'phone a "warning" to if any trouble occurred.

Funnily enough, I never received a call from any other pub warning me of any impending trouble. I guess if the link breaks, the chain is useless.

As for the modern day, I don't think we have much trouble in pubs any more. Most of the hassle occurs outside the pubs or on their way home, so I don't know if this scheme would work, or if it is even still operational.

[Cattach]

A slightly different "BarWatch" scheme was certainly in operation 15 years ago in Thurso. Posters on pub walls advertising it etc.

The deal was that if you, as a pub, suffered any trouble you'd telephone two pubs on your list, and they would then 'phone two more etc., etc. so within minutes, all the pubs would be aware of the presence of troublemakers. As a barman back in those days I distinctly remember the two pubs I was detailed to 'phone a "warning" to if any trouble occurred.

Funnily enough, I never received a call from any other pub warning me of any impending trouble. I guess if the link breaks, the chain is useless.

As for the modern day, I don't think we have much trouble in pubs any more. Most of the hassle occurs outside the pubs or on their way home, so I don't know if this scheme would work, or if it is even still operational.

I think you are right concerning pubs. i have not seen any amount of trouble on the premises. Most drunken and loutish behaviour is to be seen in the streets with youngsters, though not exclusively, drinking what are clearly carryouts from supermarkets or other business selling alcohol. Those places are less controlled than the pubs though they tend to deny such criticism.

[cuddlepop]

We've got a Pubwatch scheme in operation in Portree and every Monday the landlord and ladys have a meeting to discuss what if anything happened over the weekend.

I'm not sure if its stopped bad behaviour because there still banning boys every Monday,so its not a deterent.

Some are on 3 months bans and some have a year ban but they still hang about the square they're just not allowed in the pubs.

[ForfarLoon]

Barwatch is a good idea, but as a previous comment has stated most of the problem of anti-social drinking happens outside. Therefore this a police and society problem.

The problem of drinking is not from Pubs which are disppearing at a huge rate in Scotland but from the supermarkets who are able to sell beer/lager cheaper than the duty paid and in bulk. Many young folk aren't drinking to enjoy they are simply drinking to get drunk and as quickly as possible.

Down here, I have been pushing for the introduction of a public drinking ban to be put in place after it had previously stalled for a year. Now it is in place.

However, there is not one solution in combating our nation's love of booze (I, myself, cannot be described as being temperant), there needs to be a number of measures to tackle this and it could take at least a generation until we see changes.

[Rheghead]

I see the Pubwatch Scheme has finally got under way at long last.

http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/...blemakers.html

[Bazeye]

It would be more of a deterrent in Caithness than it is here. People I know who are on the list just get the train to either Dalton, 4 miles away or Ulverston 9 miles away.