By Dave Lord

THE DECISION by Perth and Kinross Council to promote a “booze cruise” calling in at nine Perth city-centre pubs has been branded astonishing, irresponsible and outrageous by campaigners.

Among those to blast the local authority was the Tayside Council on Alcohol (TCA), which was yesterday “surprised and saddened” by the apparent invitation to binge drink.

The row blew up on the very same day Perth and Kinross Council welcomed deputy minister for finance and public service reform Tavish Scott to the Fair City—specifically to discuss the binge-drinking issue.

Perth and Kinross Council had promoted a “Tipsy Tartan Trail” to coincide with international Tartan Week celebrations.

The event involved visiting nine pubs in Perth city centre on a Friday night, enjoying a drink at each establishment while wearing at least one item of tartan clothing.

The council billed the event as a fun way to start the tartan week festivities.

However, the director of TCA, Frankie Claridge, said the promotion of binge drinking was anything but funny.

She was particularly disappointed given Perth and Kinross Council’s recent high-profile support for plans to cut pub happy hours.

“I am surprised that this has come to light as the council took a brave step by publicly denouncing price promotions at pubs,” Ms Claridge said.

“Nevertheless, here they are actively encouraging people to go on a booze cruise.”

Ms Claridge said the TCA was only too aware of the potentially devastating effects of drinking to excess.

“Promotions like this will certainly not help to cut binge drinking,” she said.

“I am surprised and saddened to hear about it.”

Meanwhile, the leader of the opposition Tory group on Perth and Kinross Council, Alexander Stewart, branded the tipsy tartan trail outrageous.

He said, “I have grave concerns that the celebrations to promote tartan week include nothing more than a pub crawl around nine Perth city licensed trade establishments.”

Mr Stewart added, “While we are being advised to taper our alcohol intake and being branded a nation of binge drinkers I find it absolutely astonishing that something called a tipsy trail is being approved and recommended.”

Mr Stewart insisted it was highly irresponsible to promote such an event.

“Perth is no different from any other city and does have its fair share of disruptive or even anti-social behaviour taking place during the weekend—often as a direct result of binge drinking,” he said.

“If a person chose to go on this trail and took a tipple in each of the nine establishments I believe they would be well under the influence of alcohol by the end of the evening.

“I am a firm believer in moderation...and to suggest this pub crawl is nothing more than irresponsible behaviour under the disguise of Tartan Week.”

The councillor added that his would not be the only voice challenging the council over the issue.

When contacted by The Courier, a council spokesman denied that the tartan trail promotion was irresponsible.

He insisted that those taking part were encouraged to eat as well as drink at the nine establishments involved—despite the event taking place on a Friday night when food is unavailable in many of the pubs.

“The tipsy tartan trail was organised as part of the celebrations for Tartan Week and included both food and drink,” he said.

During the meeting with Executive minister Tavish Scott, Councillor David Dow insisted the local authority was “keen to encourage responsible attitudes to alcohol”

Blissfully unaware of the local authority’s promotion of the tipsy tartan trail, Mr Scott claimed irresponsible drinks promotions were “blighting communities” across Perth and Kinross.

“It is a simple fact that some promotions encourage many people to drink more alcohol and help contribute to our grim record in this area,” he said.