Boris's ban on alcohol on London Transport (with poll)

[rich!]

What about if I'm getting a train to Sheffield.
Am I not allowed to crack into a can until I'm outside greater London?

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the train is about to enter the Greater London Intolerance Zone. We will be stopping for ten minutes while BT Police board to search for unauthorised alcohol consumption.

Meanwhile, the bar is serving a selection of hot and cold drinks, tea and coffee, beers wines and spirits."

 

[rutabowa]

What about if I'm getting a train to Sheffield.
Am I not allowed to crack into a can until I'm outside greater London?

nothing is changing on trains.

 

[Dask]

What about having a protest on June the 1st on the circle line, Flash mob drinking on public transport day??

Just an idea.

 

[King Biscuit Time]

nothing is changing on trains.

Are you sure - I thought the ban covers all public transport?
I realise they're not going to be able to police proper intercity trains, but what about London overground services.

 

[rutabowa]

Are you sure - I thought the ban covers all public transport?
I realise they're not going to be able to police proper intercity trains, but what about London overground services.

hmm dunno i don't think i will change my habits though.

 

[christonabike]

Anyone got the official line on this, like from somewhere official and not a newspaper

There's nowt about it on Tfl

Ta

 

[editor]

Fucking stupid law that will achieve precisely nothing. Drunken behaviour on tubes has got precious little to do with drinking on the tube train - besides, most journeys don't give you enough time to get drunk even if you tried really hard.

What a clueless fuckwit that Boris cunt is.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Fucking stupid law that will achieve precisely nothing. Drunken behaviour on tubes has got precious little to do with drinking on the tube train - besides, most journeys don't give you enough time to get drunk even if you tried really hard.

What a clueless fuckwit that Boris cunt is.

We can expect a lot more of this. Remember who voted for him - the suburban middle classes and the west london rich. He needs to keep these forces for reaction sweet if he's to win again in four years' time.

 

[dream_girl]

Another reason to ride a bike. It was being able to have a sneaky drink which made public transport tolerable imo.

 

[ymu]

Trains and planes are not really public transportation. They are privately owned. I think the issue should be more about what is acceptable on publically funding transportation.

I don't know about Canada, but the buses are privately owned too. Airlines and the railway companies get public subsidy, just as the buses do. You can charter a private plane and a private train just like you can hire a private coach, but scheduled services are public transport.

How is it OK for people to be allowed to drink on a journey long enough to get drunk on, but not to sup a tinny on a short hop across London? People who are causing problems can be dealt with under existing legislation, whether they're drunk or not.

It's just a pointless bit of legislation that has a few braindead morons thinking that it'll stop them being harrassed by drunk people on the tube when it blatantly won't. There isn't enough time to get pissed on most tube journeys, so it can't possibly reduce the number of people who are drunk whilst using it - but it probably will mean that some people will get a lot more tanked up before they head out, so it seems more likely to exacerbate any existing problem than anything.

It's just a pity that two of the most addictive and harmful drugs available today - alcohol and tobacco - aren't regulated more. I know they bring in tax to the government, but how much is that compared to what is wasted in the NHS dealing with medical issues caused by them?

Smokers pay nearly twice as much in tax as the NHS spends on treating smoking related diseases. Not sure on the figures for alcohol, but that costs the NHS less than tobacco does and the tax take is probably comparable to tobacco.

Feel free to worry about what people are doing to their bodies, but don't try and claim you're paying for it. You benefit from it - not just the tax take, but the fact that these people die younger and so don't tend to claim much of it back in the way of a pension.

 

[CharlieAddict]

We can expect a lot more of this. Remember who voted for him - the suburban middle classes and the west london rich. He needs to keep these forces for reaction sweet if he's to win again in four years' time.

i voted for him and i'm neither a suburban middle class or a west londoner.

and i buy The Times as well.

 

[citydreams]

Anyone got the official line on this, like from somewhere official and not a newspaper

There's nowt about it on Tfl

Ta

Aye:

From 1 June 2008, drinking from and carrying open containers of alcohol will be banned.

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, today joined London’s Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy, to unveil information posters advising passengers of the plans, which will be displayed on the Transport for London network from today.

The Mayor said: 'I’m determined to improve the safety and security of public transport in London and create a better environment for the millions of Londoners who rely on it. I firmly believe that if we drive out so called minor crime then we will be able to get a firm grip on more serious crime. That’s why from June 1st the drinking of alcohol will be banned from the Tube, tram, bus, and Docklands Light Railway.'
The ban is supported by the Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police, and over the next month Transport for London will make the necessary legal changes and consult with staff.

Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy, said: 'We are already working closely with Boris Johnson and his team to improve safety and security on the transport network. I am sure that cutting out boozing on public transport will be welcomed by our passengers and staff.'

Don Shenker, Chief Executive of Alcohol Concern, said: 'Alcohol Concern welcomes the decision to ban drinking on all Transport for London modes. Public drinking and the behaviour sometimes associated with it can , and does, deeply affect people’s ability to enjoy public spaces. Taking a firm approach to public drinking in this way sends a strong message that public drunkenness is socially unacceptable and will support both the public and transport staff. This in the end, is what ‘culture change’ is all about.'

British Transport Police Chief Superintendent Miles Flood said: 'We welcome this measure to prohibit the consumption of alcohol on Tube trains and stations. This will help us deal proactively with those who engage in unsafe and antisocial behaviour, which is a key priority for BTP.'

TfL intends to implement the policy through a change to the Conditions of Carriage relating to Underground and Bus services. This will specify that alcohol cannot be consumed or carried in open containers on any service. DLR has “Rules for using tickets” which are similar to TfL’s Conditions of Carriage, and can be amended in the same way.

 

[dream_girl]

i voted for him and i'm neither a suburban middle class or a west londoner.

and i buy The Times as well.

did you cast all the one million odd votes then?

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Alchohol Concern have backed the plan:

Don Shenker, Chief Executive of Alcohol Concern, said:

“Alcohol Concern welcomes the decision to ban drinking on all Transport for London modes. Public drinking and the behaviour sometimes associated with it can , and does, deeply affect people’s ability to enjoy public spaces. Taking a firm approach to public drinking in this way sends a strong message that public drunkenness is socially unacceptable and will support both the public and transport staff. This in the end, is what ‘culture change’ is all about.”

 

[littlebabyjesus]

i voted for him and i'm neither a suburban middle class or a west londoner.

The Forces of Reaction know no boundaries.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Bob Crow's response is amusing and makes a fair point:

But the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) Union's leader Bob Crow said: "We are in favour of any measure that will make our members' lives safer and curb anti-social behaviour, but it appears that this really hasn't been thought through very well and could well make matters worse.

"We are being told that it will be our members who will have to approach people drinking and ask them to stop - but the mayor hasn't asked us what we think.

"Perhaps the mayor will come out with his underpants on over his trousers like Superman one Saturday to show us how it should be done, and maybe tell a crowd of Liverpool supporters that they can't drink on the train."

 

[ymu]

Looks like we're going to have a 4 year run of Boris v Bob.

Boris 0, Bob 2 so far.

 

[editor]

Go Bob Crow! I reckon we're going to be in for some interesting times ahead as Boris comes up with more half baked transport plans.

 

[Fruitloop]

Alchohol Concern have backed the plan:

Notice how they shimmy from public drinking to public drunkenness, as if they weren't actually rather unrelated.

 

[christonabike]

There were 3000 Leeds fans going through London Bridge a couple of weeks ago, I'd like to see them stopped for drinking from a can

 

[untethered]

Go Bob Crow! I reckon we're going to be in for some interesting times ahead as Boris comes up with more half baked transport plans.

Yes, let's hope that unelected union leaders make it as difficult as possible for our democratically-elected mayor to implement his programme!

Down with the will of the people!

 

[dream_girl]

Alchohol Concern have backed the plan:

Christian do-gooding mother fuckers

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Yes, let's hope that unelected union leaders make it as difficult as possible for our democratically-elected mayor to implement his programme!

Down with the will of the people!

Isn't Bob Crow elected by the RMT members?

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

So is this just a London thing? Will I be able to have a sniffter on the way up to ma & pas?

 

[dream_girl]

Yes, let's hope that unelected union leaders make it as difficult as possible for our democratically-elected mayor to implement his programme!

Are you suggesting that the RMT is undemocratic?

 

[untethered]

Isn't Bob Crow elected by the RMT members?

I'm sure you know precisely what I meant.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Yes, let's hope that unelected union leaders make it as difficult as possible for our democratically-elected mayor to implement his programme!

Down with the will of the people!

The will of 20% of the people to be precise.

 

[dream_girl]

Down with the will of the people!

Less than half the people who voted voted for Boris. Of them I doubt if 100% support the ban on drinking. I don't think this is an issue of "unelected" leader vs. will of the people somehow.

Besides - to have a truly fair representation of the will of the people I think we could have done without a month of spurious anti-Livingstone stories form the Tory press.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I'm sure you know precisely what I meant.

What you meant was: Fuck the workers.

 

[untethered]

The will of 20% of the people to be precise.

The will of the majority of Londoners (give or take) that felt strongly enough about the outcome to bother to vote.

Good enough for me.