Negative effect of stag and hen parties

3:45pm Tuesday 12th June 2007

STAG and hen parties have a negative impact on York according to the city's tourism partnership which has asked if they should be banned.

The partnership undertook research into people's opinions of the city's night time economy, asking tourists, business owners and residents for their views.

Business owners felt that one of the worst aspects of York in the evening was the prevalence of stag and hen parties and that there should be a debate over whether such groups should be confined to one area or even banned completely from staying in the city overnight through hotels and guest houses adhering to a common policy.

But Coun Steve Galloway, chairman of City of York Council's economic development partnership board which is due to discuss the research, said it would be up to business owners to implement a ban as the council had no powers in that area.

Coun Galloway said: "As far as the problems with alcohol consumption later in the evening we all recognise that can be an issue.

"I do personally accept that if people come in groups, be they male or female, intending on drinking as much as possible then the potential for problems is increased."

But he added: "We as a council have no powers to prevent people coming to the city but happily the people who form the tourist partnership do have some power as they are the hotel and restaurant owners and if they choose not to accept bookings in their businesses for large groups of young people that power lies with them."

Coun Galloway said that if businesses chose to have a blanket ban on stag and hen parties it is unlikely the council would stand in their way but that the tourist partnership should think any such proposal through carefully.

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