Goverment to Ban Drinking on Public Transport

[yeo]

:x

Well that ruins away days on the train then.

They are bound to back down in the same way as they have on the smoking thing.

[Johno]

you could say 'thats no surprise' as people probably do get quite drunk! but yeh, getting drunk on a train must be fun!

[Spud]

Yeah just seen that on the News, fucking cunts.  :evil:

[Bob's Orange]

Buses are supposed to be non smoking, but I have yet to see 1 ned prick prosecuted for polluting my bus air!

Drinking on trains to football is tradition.

[Spud]

you could say 'thats no surprise' as people probably do get quite drunk! but yeh, getting drunk on a train must be fun!

Yes people get drunk in Pubs and then get on Trains, having a few cans on the Train to Footy is tradition.

[genf_stfc]

This government sucks arse - being drunk and disorderly in a public place is an offence anyway so don't see why they need new shit rules... will probably be OK though as train operators will probably kick off if they can't sell weak pissy carlsberg for 2 quid a can.

Planes will be next - how is anyone supposed to endure an 8 hour flight without getting completely lashed up ?!!

[land_of_bo]

It wont happen. Its only president blair that wants to bring it in, the rest of the labourites are against it. Also all the train companies have come out against it this morning.

Like someone said already, most of the trouble on public transport is caused by people who are pissed before they get on....what are they going to do, breathalise public transport users? You can't drink and drive, so you be sensible and get a bus/train home, but wait, you're pissed so you're not allowed to do that either..... :?

[janaage]

I fucking hate this nanny state we live in.  The one thing that pisses me off is when the news show reports about drunkeness and have pictures of young men and women "too drunk to walk" etc.  Have these journo's never gone out and had afew before - do good bastards.

If you are able to control yourself you shouldbe allowed to have a drink on the trains or buses.  If you can't you should be arrested, simple.

[mattboyslim]

The train companies won't have it because they know their trains are often so bad a beer is required to survive the journey.  People who cause trouble on the train are the kind of people who'd do it sober anyway, beer and trains is a cultural part of British life.

[Whits]

The Government was in full retreat last night over a proposal to ban drinking on all forms of public transport as part of new campaign against anti-social behaviour.

   
Tories and Lib Dems said the proposed ban was ridiculous
After senior ministers distanced themselves from the idea, train operators said it was unworkable and Opposition politicians said the Government was "obsessed" with banning things, Downing Street made clear that there were no plans for a "blanket ban" on alcohol on trains and buses.

The alcohol ban was suggested by Tony Blair's Whitehall 'Respect Unit' alongside a range of other initiatives to tackle yobbery and drunken behaviour.

It was proposed at a meeting chaired by Mr Blair at Chequers last month, attended by officials including Louise Casey, head of the Home Office's anti-social behaviour unit, to consider proposals for a "respect paper" to be published by the end of the year.

Banning all alcohol consumption on public transport had been suggested as a way of curbing binge drinking and stopping groups of drunken youths terrorising passengers.

Ministers quickly got cold feet when it emerged that the ban could prevent train passengers from having a glass of wine with a meal or a relaxing drink on the way home.

Last week, the Cabinet was embroiled in the most public and divisive dispute since Labour came to power in 1997 when ministers clashed over attempts to toughen a proposed ban on smoking in enclosed public places.

John Reid, the Defence Secretary, who successfully pressed for the Government to stick to a manifesto commitment to allow smoking in non-food pubs and private clubs, yesterday said he did not favour a total drinks ban on public transport.

In what will be seen as an attempt to shelve the idea, he told BBC Television's Sunday AM programme that the Government had not proposed it.

He said Miss Casey had "proposed that we discuss whether there should be drinking allowed on public transport".

But he stressed he wanted a balance between "rights and responsibilities", with people able to have a civilised drink at whatever time they wanted, but without people being "abusive through drink".

Downing Street said it was an idea that had come up in discussions. Officials said it was possible there could be targeted measures, such as preventing people taking crates of beer on to trains.

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats said it was ridiculous to stop people drinking on public transport while allowing pubs to stay open for 24 hours.

Theresa May, the Tory culture spokesman, said it was another example of the Labour nanny state going over the top.

Police forces were at best cautious but generally sceptical, pointing out that troublemakers were often drunk before they even attempted to board the train.

British Transport Police said there was not a blanket problem, but it was an issue on some routes, such as Gatwick to Reading as well as trains out of London and other major cities.

Virgin dismissed the plans as unworkable. "There is the problem of policing a ban, especially when you have 450 people on a train and one manager," a spokesman said.

A spokesman for Eurostar said: "Part of the experience for our customers is being able to drink champagne on the trip.

"Does this mean that you would only be able to open a bottle half way through the Channel Tunnel?"

[Spud]

Put it this way, ive gone out and got completely hammered yet i never feel the need to go and start on someone like other morons have to do to have a good night out.

 :evil:

[yeo]

The Government was in full retreat last night over a proposal to ban drinking on all forms of public transport as part of new campaign against anti-social behaviour.

   
Tories and Lib Dems said the proposed ban was ridiculous
After senior ministers distanced themselves from the idea, train operators said it was unworkable and Opposition politicians said the Government was "obsessed" with banning things, Downing Street made clear that there were no plans for a "blanket ban" on alcohol on trains and buses.

The alcohol ban was suggested by Tony Blair's Whitehall 'Respect Unit' alongside a range of other initiatives to tackle yobbery and drunken behaviour.

It was proposed at a meeting chaired by Mr Blair at Chequers last month, attended by officials including Louise Casey, head of the Home Office's anti-social behaviour unit, to consider proposals for a "respect paper" to be published by the end of the year.

Banning all alcohol consumption on public transport had been suggested as a way of curbing binge drinking and stopping groups of drunken youths terrorising passengers.

Ministers quickly got cold feet when it emerged that the ban could prevent train passengers from having a glass of wine with a meal or a relaxing drink on the way home.

Last week, the Cabinet was embroiled in the most public and divisive dispute since Labour came to power in 1997 when ministers clashed over attempts to toughen a proposed ban on smoking in enclosed public places.

John Reid, the Defence Secretary, who successfully pressed for the Government to stick to a manifesto commitment to allow smoking in non-food pubs and private clubs, yesterday said he did not favour a total drinks ban on public transport.

In what will be seen as an attempt to shelve the idea, he told BBC Television's Sunday AM programme that the Government had not proposed it.

He said Miss Casey had "proposed that we discuss whether there should be drinking allowed on public transport".

But he stressed he wanted a balance between "rights and responsibilities", with people able to have a civilised drink at whatever time they wanted, but without people being "abusive through drink".

Downing Street said it was an idea that had come up in discussions. Officials said it was possible there could be targeted measures, such as preventing people taking crates of beer on to trains.

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats said it was ridiculous to stop people drinking on public transport while allowing pubs to stay open for 24 hours.

Theresa May, the Tory culture spokesman, said it was another example of the Labour nanny state going over the top.

Police forces were at best cautious but generally sceptical, pointing out that troublemakers were often drunk before they even attempted to board the train.

British Transport Police said there was not a blanket problem, but it was an issue on some routes, such as Gatwick to Reading as well as trains out of London and other major cities.

Virgin dismissed the plans as unworkable. "There is the problem of policing a ban, especially when you have 450 people on a train and one manager," a spokesman said.

A spokesman for Eurostar said: "Part of the experience for our customers is being able to drink champagne on the trip.

"Does this mean that you would only be able to open a bottle half way through the Channel Tunnel?"

Yeovil Red defeats the Goverment  

[Kinky Tom]

:x

Well that ruins away days on the train then.

They are bound to back down in the same way as they have on the smoking thing.

When I heard this I instantly thought of you.

It's not on at all.

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

what difference is this ban going to make? the answer is none. simple people dont get drunk on buses and trains they get drunk in bars and clubs and use the bus or train to get home. so they will still be drunk anyway.

[Kinky Tom]

Footy away matches Rich!