I'll preface this by saying I'm asking these questions purely to get answers. I'm not trying to troll, nor am I trying to spark a debate about whether the following practices should be enforced. Please keep any replies on-topic and factual.

Had a bit of a debate about this and wondering if anyone knows the answer. There are two questions:

• Is it legal in Scottish law to place a sign on the entrance to a pub/restaurant which says "No black people allowed"?
  
• Is it legal to stop all black people from entering a pub/restaurant by employing a door person and giving them instruction to refuse entry to all black people?
  

Links to laws or other documentation which answer the question(s) would also be appreciated.

Thanks, and please keep it civil.

Technically thats very much illegal. But the bar owner can refuse to let anyone in and doesn't have to give a reason. Thats what I believe anyway

Like rich said, as far as I am aware the owner can chose who to and not allow in. Doesnt matter what race they are.

Quote from amp88 :

Links to laws or other documentation which answer the question(s) would also be appreciated.

Look up the Race Relations Act 1976. It would be illegal.

I think there's provisions both for and against such actions. Firstly, as mentioned, the owner can allow or deny access to anyone at anytime for any reasons; it is their property.

On the other hand, it is blatantly racist, and as such, could be illegal. It's one of those grey area things.

Quote from MAGGOT :

On the other hand, it is blatantly racist, and as such, could be illegal. It's one of those grey area things.

It really isn't a grey area, but i've no doubt that it still happens. I think racism has changed over the last 5-10 years though, from my own observation i'd say the focus seems to have shifted away from white/black hate and onto nationality based hate, which is also illegal - but still happens.

Would make sense if someone Scottish posted so i'll start.
The first point - No. Its blatant racism and the owner could either risk losing their property or their alcohol license.

Second point - In theory yes. The landlord can refuse entry to anyone he desires and is NOT obligated to state a reason or explain himself.

Quote from 91mason91 :

Would make sense if someone Scottish posted so i'll start.

Racist!

If they say " No Blacks " ( or whatever ) thats racist and illegal.

If they say " Your not coming in " thats selective and legal.

As with much of the law the action may be the same, but the legality will depend on how stupid the person carrying out the action is.

You can put there a sign that says "Invitation only" and then give invitation only to your non-black friends.

Seems a right mess really. The management has the right to refuse admission, unless anyone puts in a serious (and publically interesting) complaint that they were turned away.

Even the oft used pubwatch scheme is illegal since it involves taking people's pictures.

Quote from unseen :

Even the oft used pubwatch scheme is illegal since it involves taking people's pictures.

Since when was it illegal to take someone's picture?

Dig into the laws and it may or may not be. I just know when we ran a hotel, the police were regular visitors and all of us were told in no uncertain terms that if anyone complained about us taking pictures as part of the pubwatch scheme, we were open to prosecution.

On a lighter note, we did once put up a sign stating "no ******s" for one of the regulars, but that was only in response to him asking us to shine his shoes the day before

I'm now wondering why this thread has come about?

Amp, you're not setting up a BNP bar are you?

It would be illegal.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2002/04/14602/3571
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/ ... t_race_discrimination.htm

Quite intreagued myself actually. The Horse Shoe put up a "No Simracers" sign, amp?

Quote from piggy501 :

Amp, you're not setting up a BNP bar are you?

So wait, you can create a police force etc which bars those on a BNP list but then can't create a BNP bar? Hypocritical, much?

wth is pubwatch

In North Carolina they just say "Get off my porch and take your dam dog with you" .

It's all wrong...a smile goes a mile.

I'm short...so I know discrimination...I could be purple and still be short...people would still make fun of my height.

AAnt

im thinking thats blatent racism and is illegal, or atleast here it is. you could sue them for racial descrimination. you should see some of the cases that arent rece related that have been decided they are "race related"

Quote from logitekg25 :

im thinking thats blatent racism and is illegal, or atleast here it is. you could sue them for racial descrimination. you should see some of the cases that arent rece related that have been decided they are "race related"

You are thinking way to much........really, try to relax.

Ant for short people.

Quote from flymike91 :

wth is pubwatch

It Equals Money. any other questions?

Quote from boothy :

So wait, you can create a police force etc which bars those on a BNP list but then can't create a BNP bar? Hypocritical, much?

I'm so proud of you being such an A hole all on your own.

Now go do good.

Quote from boothy :

So wait, you can create a police force etc which bars those on a BNP list but then can't create a BNP bar? Hypocritical, much?

It's okay, I was just being silly. Just want to know why he's wondering.

Quote from logitekg25 :

im thinking thats blatent racism and is illegal, or atleast here it is. you could sue them for racial descrimination. you should see some of the cases that arent rece related that have been decided they are "race related"

here it's illegal to say "no blacks allowed" or something similar, but not to have an unspoken policy of not allowing blacks on the premises/ not accepting them into the club.

Augusta National comes to mind. They are just selective, an invite only club. No women, first black member was in 1990 or so, and I'm not sure there are more than that. Not illegal. Controversial, yes. But not illegal.

The house across the street from me had one of my friends "escorted off the premises" just because he was Indian, and another had entry to the house blocked because he's black. Of course they didn't say that it was because of race, but it clearly was since they had no problem with me. And it sorta stings as their friend, because there is nothing that can be done about it.

source: my Business Law and Ethics course/textbook, in which we just learned about exactly this issue in reference to American law. Can't say I know anything about Scottish laws, I just wanted to correct logitek becasue he was making things up