It wasn’t as if the government hadn't been pre-warned! The predicted and unintended consequences of the new licensing laws appear to be coming to fruition. Some high profile tourist attractions will stop selling little tourist gifts of whisky miniatures because of the unproportionately high cost of getting a liquor licence under the new laws. The Scotsman (http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland/Tourist-sites-pull-plug-on.5008372.jp) has reported that Historic Scotland has decided not to renew its licence for selling alcohol at 16 tourist attractions: Tormiston Mill, Corgarff Castle, Fort George, Blackhouse, St Andrews Castle, Edzell Castle, Castle Campbell, Aberdour Castle, Huntingtower, Dunstaffnage, Inchcolm Abbey, Caerlaverock Castle, Dryburgh Abbey, Jedburgh Abbey, Melrose Abbey and Linlithgow Palace.
The cost of getting a licence can be as high as £10,000 due to architect and legal fees which has caused this government agency to cut back as it has.
They are not alone - The National Trust for Scotland is doing the same at Brodick Castle on Arran, Ell Shop in Dunkeld and Priorwood Gardens in Melrose.
The tourism industry has, vociferously and on many occasions, brought this problem to the government’s attention but all in vain, it seems.
The cost of getting a licence can be as high as £10,000 due to architect and legal fees which has caused this government agency to cut back as it has.
They are not alone - The National Trust for Scotland is doing the same at Brodick Castle on Arran, Ell Shop in Dunkeld and Priorwood Gardens in Melrose.
The tourism industry has, vociferously and on many occasions, brought this problem to the government’s attention but all in vain, it seems.
Just what we need for the much acclaimed Year of the Homecoming! What better product is Scotland known for other than whisky? It is synonymous with something like the Homecoming but visitors are going to be disappointed when they discover that the nation’s major tourist attractions don’t actually sell the stuff! Oh well, hey ho…..maybe they'll buy the tartan dollies instead huh?
I know from almost first hand experience how difficult and costly it is to get the necessary licence under the new licensing laws. David, my husband, has recently managed to successfully obtain the liquor licence for the top tourist destination he manages in Angus, Glamis Castle (http://www.glamis-castle.co.uk/). I know from discussing his experiences of their licence application that it was a complex task. I was able to help by providing background information about the legislation.
David has been at the forefront of the tourism industry’s campaign to highlight these unintended consequences to the government and I know he is not surprised about this latest development. Extremely passionate about tourism, he has unlimited energy when it comes to selling Scotland as a major tourist attraction both nationally in the UK but across the world. He has travelled the length and breadth (well just about) of the world with kilt packed neatly and weighing heavily in his suitcase to promote Scotland. Visitors to Glamis Castle come from just about every corner of the world and so it was crucial for them to be able to offer tourists not just the national product, whisky, but also the more civilised glass of wine with lunch which visitors from many other countries enjoy without getting legless or causing any problems of the type that the new licensing laws are designed to stop. Thanks to his efforts visitors will continue to enjoy the Scottish experience.
However, I suspect that it won't just be Historic Scotland venues who will be unable to fulfil visitors' expectations of the Scottish experience but also the lovely little cafes and restaurants privately owned around Scotland where one could normally enjoy a lovely lunch with a glass of fine wine!
What do you make of all this? Look forward to hearing your views...
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