Drinking fines: 'It's a sensible way to tackle any problems'

Alongside picnic sandwiches and barbecues on the sands and fish suppers on the Prom, some daytrippers enjoy a cooling beer or glass of wine.

Most who do this are sensible about their drinking, but sadly not all.

In recent months, the loutish behaviour of a very small minority has threatened to spoil the enjoyment of everyone else.

Fortunately, the only serious problems so far seem to have been limited to a string of incidents on one Bank Holiday weekend.

To their credit, the police and city council have moved to snuff out the problem before it has the chance to grow.

Police have been given the power to hand 40 on-the-spot fines to anyone drinking and causing a nuisance in the area.

This is a sensible approach which helps officers to tackle any problems that may arise, while leaving the rest of us to get on with enjoying ourselves.

Similar tactics have proved successful in the past at Hunter Square.

It is also much more preferable to the complete ban on outdoor drinking introduced in some East Lothian towns.

These have proved effective in some areas where antisocial behaviour had spiralled out of control, but they must remain a last resort.

The proportionate and speedy response in Portobello will, hopefully, mean we can all continue to enjoy being beside the sea.

Closing time

THERE have been all sorts of reasons for the demise of several well-known and once- popular pubs in the Capital.

The ban on smoking, licensing changes, claims of increased drinking at home thanks to cheap supermarket booze and the impact of the recession have all been blamed. Some, like the White Horse on the Royal Mile, have died only to be yuppified and resurrected.

Today, we report that the Tun is the latest pub to shut its doors. Situated next to the BBC, across Holyrood Road from the News' own headquarters and within easy staggering distance from the Scottish Parliament, the owners must have thought they were on to a winner.

That a pub cannot prosper so near so many journalists and politicians is a - probably welcome - sign of the times.