EBowman wrote:I admit I am new to this debate, having come from the US. However, it seems odd to me that prohibitions and permits are being proposed without tackling the real problem, which seems to me is the idea that going into the wild is about getting drunk. In many US parks alcohol is simply banned. Obviously the police tend to enforce this only when people are drunk, and it is easy to enforce (as in, 'Pour out your beer on the ground. Now.'). Regulate the booze, not the access, and make sure there are enough rangers/wardens/police to do the job. It's not like Scotland has a shortage of unemployed people who'd love a job taking care of a park....
The US national parks are world class but they are not free, $80 for a years pass to all parks or up to $30 for a weeks pass to one. Also the access is not like Scotland it is strictly regulated using campgrounds and backcountry permits. You require permits even to go for a walk in some cases. You dont see hillwalkers "wild camping"on the roadside beside their car.
Banning alcohol has been tried before in the US and it didn't work then. In Scotland do we really want to criminalise people wild camping because they have a couple of beers
Backpacker wrote:
I'm of the opinion that if you want kids, you pay for them, so park rangers are more important to me than paying to have someone else's kids looked after. Anyway it's detracting from the thread.
Not sure what your point is here. Do you think that only people accessing the national park should pay for the rangers etc. What about mountain rescue helicopters. A common thought from the general public is that people who are daft enough to get in to trouble in the hills and run up a bill of several thousands should pay it themselves.
NickyRannoch wrote:
I'm more interested in what could be done about this policy.
I wonder if people would be willing to actually get themselves into the NPA to influence policy.
Good question but several people on this forum show support for a blanket ban of wild camping having a drink etc. So what chance do you have of getting a policy you like.
I would like to see Cameron McNeish joining the NPA and trying to influence policy