POLICE concerns over anti-social drinking will see a ban on the consumption of alcohol on the streets during a medieval Scottish festival.
The relaxation of by-laws allowing drinking during the Lanimer Festival in Lanark is expected to be revoked by next year, following an assault on a young man.
Strathclyde Police had lobbied for a ban on public drinking during the June festival several years ago, with last year's incident bringing the matter back to the fore.
South Lanarkshire Council will go ahead with the move despite the majority of respondents to a public consultation opposing the ban. One of the groups which organise the festival has also raised concerns that revoking the by-laws will impact upon horse riders drinking from hip flasks and ceremonial toasts.
The Lord Cornets Club said the practices were trouble-free. The group also said a similar ban had seen the Pipe Band Competition at the Cowal Games go from a major event to one a fraction of the size in recent years.
The Royal Burgh of Lanark Community Council also said "limiting drinking in public to designated areas combined with a reduced time period was a preferred solution to the problem rather than a total ban".
Lanimer Festival has its origins in the reign of King David I in the early 1100s and his granting Lanark the status of Royal Burgh.
Ann Gee, South Lanarkshire's executive director of housing and technical resources, said: "The council agreed to look at this issue after concerns were raised by Police Scotland about levels of anti-social behaviour linked to alcohol consumption."
Of 789 responses, 382, or 48.4%, felt the council should not amend the by-laws. Those opposed amounted to 354 respondents, or 44.9%.
The council said: "There is a clear indication that most respondents regardless of whether they were for or against change considered that there was a bit of a problem to a major problem in relation to incidents of violence and anti-social behaviour caused by alcohol."
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