CAN ZERO TOLERANCE POLICIES REALLY WORK ? ....... ( Article by Dr. Sigmund T. Schukelgruber )

For any zero tolerance policy to work effectively, each club must strive to enforce it to the letter....... at all times without fail. This will avoid any possibility of allegations of favouritism and/or prejudice.

Firstly, the policy must be applied universally, so that every member knows about it, and every transgression is acted upon and dealt with accordingly.

Moreover, every offender must be dealt with in the same firm but fair way, with appropriate sanctions being applied.

Sanctions need to be seen as effective, if the deterrent objective of the policy is to be achieved. This may well mean imposing temporary or even permanent bans on members, guilty of serious or repeated minor offences.

If bridge clubs continue to be the sought after habitats of awkward, cantankerous, anti-social, distinctly unpleasant people, then the time has come to cast them out. No matter who these people are, and what status, rank, and position they hold in the club.......if they ruin the enjoyment of others, then they must face the music ( or the guillotine ) .