Since the turn of the millennium concerns over levels of alcohol-related incivility / anti-social behaviour in Scotland and how licensing law should respond to these have become of increasing political salience (e.g. ‘Nicholson Committee Report’, 2004), to the extent that the current Scottish Justice Minister has reportedly declared binge drinking to be our “national sport” (Gardham, 2007). Initially these concerns were directed towards alcohol-related disorder associated with on-trade licensed premises, particularly those located in city centre night-time economies, rather than towards the off-trade sector or residential neighbourhoods.
Violence, Drugs and Alcohol