Byelaws
Byelaws are local laws made by a council to address issues that are not covered by national legislation but matter to people in the local area. Before a byelaw can come into force, the council must advertise the proposed byelaw to give local people a chance to comment, and then seek approval from the Scottish Ministers.
Some of our current byelaws are listed below. This section is not exhaustive. For further information, or to ask about byelaws not listed here, contact:
Legal Services team
Drinking in Public Places in Kirkwall
The Orkney Islands Council Prohibition of Consumption of Alcohol in Designated Public Places Byelaws (Kirkwall) 2021 came into operation on 10 January 2021. It is an offence to consume alcohol in a designated public place in Kirkwall if you fail to stop when asked to do so by a police officer. The offence does not apply in licensed premises or where an occasional licence is in operation.
The designated area covers Kirkwall town centre and Hatston Pier. Signs are displayed at or near each designated place to give notice of the byelaw.
Anyone found guilty of an offence under the byelaw is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale.
Related resources
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Drinking in Public Places Byelaw
This document contains the Orkney Islands Council byelaws restricting alcohol consumption in designated public places in Kirkwall, including Hatston Pier and nearby areas. It explains that anyone who refuses a police officer’s request to stop drinking may be fined. The rules don’t apply on licensed premises or during events covered by an occasional licence, including 15 minutes after it ends. The document also includes legal presumptions, notice requirements and a map of the area covered.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.