ScotRail is asking passengers if it should scrap the alcohol ban on its trains.
The 24/7 ban was introduced as a temporary measure in November 2020 to help support public health rules during the Covid pandemic.
However, three years on the ban is still in place and has been criticised as "unworkable" and penalising "ordinary travellers".
Read more: ScotRail consults passengers on ending 'unworkable' alcohol ban
Now the rail operator is consulting passengers on whether to end the measure. Customers logging onto its wifi hotspots are being asked to take part in an online survey on the issue.
It states: "In November 2020 ScotRail introduced a 24/7 ban to help support public health measures put in place by the Scottish government to help tackle coronavirus. This was presented and reported as a temporary measure.
"We are now looking to re-evaluate this prohibition and we are seeking our passengers' views and opinions on this matter."
Customers are then asked if they would be supportive of ScotRail removing the alcohol ban, and if it would impact their decision to travel on trains in the future.
The current ban prohibits the consumption of alcohol at any Scottish station or ScotRail train at any time of the day.
Read more: Peak time ScotRail fares scrapped for six month trial
Passengers are also banned from carrying visible alcohol and can be stopped from getting on a train if deemed "unfit".
Drinking alcohol was previously banned on ScotRail services between 9pm and 10am.
First Minister Humza Yousaf was previously urged to lift the ban, after Conservative transport spokesperson Douglas Lumsden said ScotRail and British Transport Police had called it "unworkable".
Mr Yousaf said he would give "appropriate consideration" to the issue if evidence supported lifting the ban.
He said: "We will give particular weight to the voices of women and girls, who are often those who tell us that they can feel unsafe when it comes to antisocial behaviour."
What do you think? Should ScotRail lift its ban on alcohol consumption on its trains? Or do you think the measure should stay in place?
Let us know your thoughts by taking part in our poll.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel