Maybe it's localised to certain areas. But in Newcastle and places up here a lot of bars will not allow people in with tattoos showing on their lower arms.

I just got one on my back so nobody ever see's it.

Actually the Yakuza tattoo's are awesome and some of the designs are very ancient, from a time when tattoos were viewed in a different way.
Now though, they are bad.
Also some peoples idea of a great tattoo is downright offensive to other people.