To Wee or not to Wee

by Niall McCann

I spend a surprising amount of my professional life talking about urination.

As Council budgets get squeezed, one of the first facilities to go are public toilets and, as the puddles become ubiquitous, the focus of local residents’ anger is often directed towards the nearest licensed premises. The difficulty for licensed premises is either proving that their patrons are not the offenders, or if their customers do enjoy a bit of al fresco how to stop them.

Unfortunately I have no easy solution. It is only if the culprits are apprehended by the police and questioned that their drinking habits are revealed and, even if they have been drinking in a local bar, can that establishment really be blamed? Only I suggest if the premises has insufficient toilet provision. And what about ensuring that patrons visit the little boys (or girls for that matter) room before they leave? There is only so far even the Mary Poppins of Nanny States can go. In practice all a bar can really do is ensure that staff (and door supervisors if they have them) are trained to prevent people urinating in the vicinity of the premises.

So unfortunately until the ‘Big Society’ has stretched to people inviting strangers into their houses to use the facilities, there will always be a problem with public urination with the busy and more boisterous premises likely to get blamed.

Interestingly I was speaking with a copper the other day who had recently caught two offenders in quick succession. Had they been on a bender down the Dog & Duck? No – one was an accountant and one was a solicitor – both were walking home from work!