Thursday May 30th 2024
Scottish Borders council building.
Borders’ bars can stay open after midnight during Euro 2024 – if Scotland reach the semi-final stage.
Members of Scottish Borders Council’s Licensing Board have agreed that should Steve Clarke’s team reach the last four of the competition in Germany licensed premises would be granted permission to remain open later, possibly up to 1am.
Council solicitor Ron Kirk said: “All licensed authorities have been asked that in the event of Scotland reaching the semi-final – now don’t laugh, we can all hope – would its licensing board be likely to issue late licences to licensed premises.
“The semi-finals are scheduled to take place mid-week at the beginning of July on a Tuesday and Wednesday evening with the kick-offs at 8pm. If the match is concluded in normal time that would be around 10 o’clock but if it goes to extra-time and then penalties it would be nearer 11pm.”
Mr Kirk admitted that Scotland’s team was not one of the competition’s favourites to reach the latter stages.
But he cited occasions when unfavoured teams reached the semi-final stages of major competitions – including Wales at Euro 2016 and Morocco in the 2022 World Cup.
Tweeddale West’s Councillor Eric Small said: “I think if I said no I would be shot down in flames, no, I think there should be an extension to the opening hours on this occasion. It would really nice to think we could get as far as that.”
Councillor Tom Weatherston, for Kelso & District, agreed and suggested that the same extension should be applied – if England reach the semi-final stage.
He said: “In this particular case, being proud to be British, if England go to the semi-final I would want to see them, that’s my view.”
A confident Councillor John Paton Day, for Leaderdale & Melrose, added: “When Scotland gets to the semi-final and the final I would have no objections whatsoever to an extension, in fact it would be welcome.”
Scotland take on tournament hosts Germany in the first game of the competition on June 14.
England are currently favourites to win the Euros with odds offered at 3/1. Scotland are quoted as outsiders for success with odds of 100/1.
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