ScotRail train drinking ban to end
Scotland’s Programme for Government 2025-26 has deemed the alcohol ban on the country’s railway network to be “counterproductive and ineffective”.
The prohibition of alcohol on ScotRail trains was originally introduced in November 2020 and was justified as a pandemic-related measure to curtail the spread of Covid-19.
In the Scottish government’s newly-launched Programme for Government, released yesterday (6 May), it details its plans to ensure “a safer Scotland” over the coming year, with reference to the anti-alcohol policy:
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“ScotRail will continue to implement measures to address anti-social behaviour to protect staff and passengers, particularly unacceptable behaviour targeted at women and girls. This will include further deployment of Travel Safe teams,” the section began.
“As part of this continuing programme,” it continued, “we will respond to the concerns of railway staff and others that the current general ScotRail alcohol ban – a last legacy of Covid restrictions – is counterproductive and ineffective and remove the ban on
alcohol on trains. We will replace it with new regulations that focus restrictions more effectively on particular times and locations, similar to previous restrictions.”
Prior to the blanket ban introduced in November 2020, alcohol was banned on ScotRail trains between the hours of 9pm and 10am. The “particular” timings and locations the new restrictions will cover have not been revealed yet.
Other train-related measures announced include the removal of peak travel ticket fees and the proposal of new stations on the network, with the village of Winchburgh, located close to Edinburgh, cited as one possible contender.
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