Colin

well looks like only way to sort it would be stronger rules.

Missed the point there. One of the reasons people won't help is because they do not want to apply any rules.

wrist bands for over 18 and under 18 so the under 18's dont just rip em off or lick the stamp off their hand. and thus dont get drink

Already do that with a stamping system.

Different stamps each time we open.

Black - Under 18

Red - Over 18

No stamp (washed off, whatever) Pay again or leave.

Problem is that a lot of over 18's will buy drink for the under 18's. They get 1 warning and then the're out..

It would work best if there was a Music Volunteer Commitee.

Not specifically for music but, it's been tried before. I think someone actually got a job (paid) to organise volunteers. Best of my knowledge, nothing much came of it.

A bunch of people who get trained up. and Take it in Turn to run these gigs. people who can deal with the children if their being cheeky or misbehaving.

and people who know the music scene to organise good gigs and well advertised.

Sounds good but the problem is getting people to take time off work (loss of earnings etc.) to attend training sessions and then expect them to give up their free time during evenings/weekends to act as stewards.

As for kids being cheek or misbehaving. No problem. That's just youthfull high spirits and can be tolerated providing it doesn't go to far. I find that if you want to gain respect( and the little authority to control a situation ) the best method is to treat them with respect and as adults not as kids.

it could work. but it would be hard now because the halls might not believe its a good idea.

Yes it could and, personally, I have helped at other halls when asked.

Some halls are still interested. Scalloway has held a few gigs over the last couple of months.

The Police basically stepped in and warned country hall committees that if under-agers were found with alcohol on their premises then the halls licence would be taken away and individuals could face prosecution.

Hi Alan (and anyone else who may be interested)

This is a bit of 'Urban Legend' arising from just 1 (or, possibly, 2)country hall committee(s) being spoken to by the Police who warned them that they were in danger of losing their licence. If my memory serves me correctly, this has also happened to a number of commercial premises.

The Police cannot revoke anyone's licence. They can, however, order the closure of the bar (and any function) at any licenced premises if they are not satisfied with the way it is being run.

This closure order (to the best of my knowledge) is only effective for the day it is issued.

The are a number of reasons why country halls do not open for bands these days.

In no particular order;

They are run by unpaid volunteers who are very reluctant to undertake the new training requirements that are being imposed.

Volunteers are, mostly, of an age that makes them feel threatened by the abuse handed out by some youngsters. This has led to a shortage of willing volunteers to help run gigs.

Halls have had to develop 'Conditions of Let' to protect themselves from irresponsible hirers.

Hirers are very reluctant to sign anything that implies that they are responsible for running their own function. Not surprisingly, halls are tired of carrying the can for hirers who, basically, take the money and run.

Some hirers also think that underage drinking is 'OK' and are VERY reluctant to confiscate alcohol. This leaves the hall fighting against underage drinking with no support from the hirer.

Groups and organistions that traditionally hired halls for fund raising events now seem to prefer packing bags at supermarkets. Collecting cash without responsibility.

The average age group has lowered primarily due to hirers using third party outlets for their ticket sales. These outlets have no real interest in who they are selling tickets to and make no attempt at age verification.

There's more (much) but this should be enough for now.

Similar to this

1 bottle fizzy drink

1 sugar cube

Wedge sugar cube in neck of bottle

Replace cap

Invert bottle to dissolve sugar

Place bottle where you can see it.

Try to look innocent when someone opens it.

Its the product of many things.

 

Firstly, the culture. I noticed that Mario said 12 year olds are drinking - actually the reason that all the halls got stopped is because a girl of ELEVEN had to get her stomach pumped because she was way too drunk.

I have to clear up a misconception here. (Probably worthy of a thread on it's own)

The halls didn't get 'stopped' as you put it. They stopped themselves.

The were many other reasons as well but, the example you quoted is one of them.

Secondly, the lack of things to do is debatable. It really depends when you want to do - and if the weather is up for doing it. We have great sports facilities-great if you want to do sport. I think its just lack of motiviation among Shetlanders. I know that at weekends for the past...two years(?) my choices have been to go out on the piss or stay in and watch a film.

I think that the issue here is that most of the 'entertainment' available at weekends is adult orientated and would have to agree that there does not seem to be much focus on the under-18 age group.

We do try to put something on once a month at Scalloway but, and we are the first to admit it, that doesn't help much.

People say that you don't need alcohol to make a good night, this is true, but you can have way more fun with it, from my personal

experience.

The people that say that don't know how to drink