Scots split over train drinking ban

The Scottish public is “50/50” on whether to end the ban on drinking alcohol on ScotRail trains, according to the railway company’s chief operating officer.

ScotRail’s ban on onboard drinking came in November 2020 as part of its efforts to curtail the spread of the pandemic. At the time it was presented as a temporary measure, however, more than three years on, it is still in place.

The ban was enforced by transport police, with one particularly large haul of drinks, including dozens of cans of cider and bottles of beer, confiscated from passengers by British Transport Police West Scotland in July 2022 receiving significant attention from the media. The tweet sharing the police’s actions has since been deleted.

Towards the end of last year, the national railway operator, which has been under public ownership since 2022, began a consultation with its customers, asking whether they would support an end to the policy. The survey was delivered to passengers who logged onto its wifi hotspots, explaining that prohibition was enforced to “support public health measures” and that ScotRail was “now looking to re-evaluate” it.

Appearing before Holyrood’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on Tuesday, ScotRail chief operating officer Joanne Maguire said that there was “no clear winner” from the survey: “It’s roughly around a 50/50 split on views of alcohol.”

“We’re conscious that it’s a policy decision because there’s a broader impact of alcohol on society, not just the safety of our trains,” she argued.

A spokesperson for ScotRail explained that the ball is now in Holyrood’s court over whether or not there is a repeal.

News that there might be a repeal was welcomed by the off-trade, with retailers eager to once again enjoy sales of alcoholic drinks intended for onboard consumption.

In a statement issued to the drinks business, Mo Razzaq, national vice president of the Federation of Independent Retailers, said: “I’m sure members whose shops are close to stations will welcome the news that this alcohol ban could be repealed.”

Earlier this year, the Scottish government announced its intention to implement a minimum unit price hike from 50p to 65p in an effort to tackle problem drinking, a policy which may have major ramifications for both the off- and on-trade.