Barred!

Back in 1994, when changes to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) heralded a new era of better access to goods and services, disabled Scots could have been forgiven for thinking that over five years later, they would be able to enjoy a carefree night out with friends in their local pub or club.

Unfortunately stepped entrances, heavy doors, inaccessible toilets, and a lack of good information about access can all make going out for a drink impossible or, at the very least, unnecessarily difficult.  Disabled people are still telling Capability that a typical night out with friends is all too often cut short when they discover that they can't get into a pub, or use the toilet.

It was a scenario like the latter that inspired disability activist, Mark Cooper, to launch the Barred! campaign which aims to promote better access to pubs and clubs. Last year Mark was forced to leave a pub mid drink when he discovered there was no disabled toilet.  He decided to do something about it and Barred! was born.  Mark's facebook site attracted support from disabled people across the country who had encountered similar experiences.

The campaign has come a long way since Mark's early exit from the pub. Capability adopted Barred! and in June 2010 the Barred! amendment, was passed by the Scottish Parliament.

This is an important milestone for the Barred! campaign since the  amendment requires landlords to show how their premises can be accessed by disabled customers, when they apply for a license. By asking for this information at an early stage, landlords are being encouraged to consider accessibility from the word go.  Making these access statements available to the public provides a bank of useful information which disabled people and their friends can refer to when trying to select a venue for a night out or other social occasion.