Patriotic Aberdeen drinkers could get the chance to have an extra tipple on the Queen’s 90th birthday – with councillors set to debate extending pub opening hours for up to an hour on the day.
The council’s licensing board will meet next Tuesday to discuss the proposal for Her Majesty’s official birthday on Friday, June 11.
Authorities in England and Wales have already agreed to the time extension. but, under Scottish law, every local authority has to make their own decision.
In February 2012, the board recognised the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee as an event of “national signification” and added an extra hour to closing time.
In February, SNP councillor David Cameron called for the city’s controversial drinking bylaw to be thrown out, but was narrowly defeated by other members.
The city council applied to the Scottish Government for the law in 2009 which bans people from drinking alcohol in public spaces.
Last night Mr Cameron said the authority had “missed an opportunity” to review the law, but added his view that a potential relaxation for the Queen’s birthday was a move in the right direction.
He said: “I’m not sure that the culture of the ‘drunken Scot’ is still as prevalent in the world and that can only be welcomed.”
Board member, Conservative Alan Donnelly said he welcomed anything that might help the “struggling nightlife” in the city.
He added: “Let’s treat our people like adults, we have rules dating back to the days of the Irish navvies just now.”