The Government faced increased pressure today to change the licencing rules regarding lap dancing clubs.

In an open letter to the Times newspaper, women’s rights campaigners, plus a number of councils and councillors went to press. This was on the day that Government consultation on the issue came to a close, after licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe wrote to councils across England and Wales in June, asking for their views.

Women’s rights group ‘Object’ today had their director, Dr Sasha Rakoff go on record stating: “Many local authorities have added their voice to growing calls for an end to licensing of lap dancing clubs as cafes. Current licensing has acted as a floodgate to the industry whilst making it difficult for local authorities and local people to have a say in this process. It has helped normalise lap dancing clubs and attitudes that encourage seeing women as sex objects, not people. The solution to this problem does not lie in tinkering with the Licensing Act 2003 or in planning controls. The solution lies in licensing lap dancing clubs for what they are: venues that provide visual entertainment for sexual stimulation – in other words, sex encounter establishments. We call on the Government to restore democracy to the licensing process and send out a powerful message that buying a lap dance is not the same as buying a cappuccino.”

The cappuccino comment has arisen from the fact that Lap dancing bars are officially classed as cafes. Clubs outside London only need an alcohol license to operate, this means that local residents have very few opportunities to oppose them despite concerns that lap  dancing bars have a very different impact to society. Claims have also been made that the areas surrounding lap dancing clubs become ‘no-go’ areas for women.

If the Government chose to change the licencing to put them into the same category of sex shops and sex cinemas (venues where nude entertainment is provided for the purpose of sexual stimulation), it would give councils the power to not only regulate the clubs, but also how and when they function. Will lap dancing clubs still be seen as suitable playgrounds for dating practice with the new legislation I wonder?

In 2002 Spearmint Rhino was taken to court, following an operation by the Met Police, in which the Met complained that it was acting like a brothel and the girls, whose role is “lap dancing”, were taking money for sex.

The Magistrate at Highbury Corner Court agreed with officers’ findings that acts carried out at the club were indecent, but allowed it to keep its licenses as long as the holders’ names were changed.

Spearmint Rhino is not alone in this activity: A report into the issue in Scotland published 2004  stated that “Approximately half of the customers in Glasgow went to clubs looking for sex”. The Lilth report into the issue of sex and lapdancing has some startling statistics based in London borough of Camden.

In 2007 the News of the World Reported that  football players were found to be having sex in a lap dancing club. I don’t think they were using it as dating practice though.

Many clients who I see for coaching sessions, be that male or female, often want some advice on dating. Being single these days is a minefield. We have the longest working hours in Europe and many of us simply don’t have the time to meet someone new. Add to this the crippling insecurities that plague our society, faced with airbrushed perfection every day from all angles and it’s no surprise we mainly spend our free time watching TV. Cue more focus on our inadequacies via the perfect media role models and the problem comes full circle.

Lap dancing has seen a steady rise in popularity, for the uninitiated, men (mainly) pay women to dance for them in various states of undress. The men can’t touch the women and after a few minutes the ‘dance’ is over. Traditionally this was an activity that was popular with stag parties, but statistically the ‘industry’ has seen a huge rise in the amount of solo clients. Men who are bored and increasingly lonely. With divorce on the rise, marriage being later in life than before and huge immigration in the UK, the competition just keeps getting tougher.

What if you are so shy that you can’t talk to women? What if you haven’t had a girlfriend in a long time? What if your office is mainly full of other men (heterosexuality assumed)? How about a place you can go to where attractive women will stroke you ego and your thighs for the same cost as a dating website membership. You can see the appeal.

Comments from men, taken from the referenced Times article below include, “A 29-year-old soldier says he sees it as a confidence boost, taking it as a compliment when a girl comes up to talk to him” and “Lap dancing is for lonely people,” says a 42-year-old property developer, propping up the bar with a bottle of champagne that he is keen to share. “It’s hard for them to talk to women, here it’s easier.”

Like prostitutes before them, lap dancers often wax lyrical about being surrogate marriage advisers and counsellors with benefits. What does this say about our society? Again statistically, as much as 80% of women in prostitution have been sexually abused as children. Many lap dancing clubs are known for providing ‘extras’ with VIP areas full of girls giving sexual favours for extra cash. The clubs of course deny this, but repeatedly women who are dancers will report on this practice.

The net result is that we have a group of damaged women, with low self esteem, taking their clothes off for money and a group of men, with low self esteem seeking their counsel.

Related Articles –

The Times

Clubs used for Sex – Chameleon Fridays