Orkney Image Library

You can presumably carry on drinking your Guinness if the request to stop comes from, say, a Police Sergeant or Inspector.

I wonder if they will put a sign like this up where it matters - outside the Museum, Broad Street, kirkwall.

Sadly, for all lovers of Guinness, 'Police Constable' applies to all ranks - the office of Constable is not demitted with promotion.

Once again I am indebted to you for information, Mr Dawson, but I still think 'Police Officer' would be clearer to the average Guinness imbiber like me. (Both my rather elderly dictionaries - Chambers and Oxford - define police constable as 'a police officer of the lowest rank'.)

Well spotted ex Consatble Dawson. Not many people have the opportunity to "get one over " our learned contributor Mr.Ian Hourston.

[Intentional spelling mistake]

The above comments caused me to wonder how a Police Oficer's report might go under the new byelaws . . .
"I was proceeding in an easterly direction up East Road, Kirkwall, when I observed a young male partaking of what appeared to be a beverage of the Guinness variety in contravention of OIC Prohibition of Consumption of Alcohol in Designated Places Byelaws (Kirkwall) 2011. I approached said male and, reminding him of the aforesaid byelaws, requested he cease consumption of said beverage without delay. He promptly suggested I go and commit an act of gross impropriety, not to say physical impossibility, following which he indicated an attitude of non-compliance, on grounds that I was not a Police Constable. Thereupon I explained that on receiving my thoroughly deserved, and may I say long overdue, promotion to Sergeant I did not demit the office of Constable but, on the contrary shall retain it until the day I leave the Force (which - if the allegations the young male has made appertaining to my positive and successful efforts in persuading him to relinquish his Guinness are proven - may be quite soon)."

Constable? Police Officer? There is one way to test it. Could start with a swig of Guinness at Spence's Corner...await arrival of NorCon officers...refuse to desist from said swigging...charge...plea of 'not guilty'...trial at Sheriff Court. On the other hand (whilst not wishing to serve as an 'agent provocateur') it might be less costly to use the Guinness and add it to the ingredients of a cake (delicious!) before enjoying it on the street.
Oh boy, the interpretation/enforcement of our new byelaw could open up a can of worms never mind anything that originates in Dublin, Newcastle or Quoyloo!!