24 hours drinking (again)

[BigDogsWang]

Can I ask why this country is so obsessed with drinking until they drop? The government is just as bad. On one hand they are telling us to eat healthily, play more sports and just generally be nice to one another, and the next minute they are encouraging us all to become alcoholics! I don't agree with the idea of introducing a 'continental' style drinking culture, as when I see televised trouble from holiday makers abroad, it always seems to be coming from the British.

The people who advocate 24 hour drinking should spend a Saturday night out with the Police. They have to deal with serious drunken incidents within a couple of hours of the pubs opening, let alone turning out time. Before all day drinking was introduced (early 90's??), and before pubs were allowed to open all Sunday, we didn't have half the trouble we have now.

Senior Judges and Police Chiefs all say this is a recipe for more violent behavior and an increase in Rape. They are the ones who have to 'mop up' when things turn ugly, yet the Government seem to be completely ignoring their views.

I enjoy a drink as much as the next man / woman. But I know when to stop. Unfortunately there are far too many people who don't. So offering them the chance to get even more mangled than they already do, can only lead to more incidents involving violent behavior, and more pressure on the Police and the poor Nurses in AE who have to stitch up people's wounds whilst taking abuse themselves.

[jake-the-peg]

But restrictions on drinking hours means "hamstringing the market".

Surely you don't approve of constraints to market forces?

Think of all the jobs that'll be lost in the entertainment industry

Sometimes I think this isn't a proper capitalist country at all!

I don't know what a bunch of commie reds! ;c)

[londondave]

There has been a 24 hour bar in the houses of parliment for decades, so why not let us have the same priveledge. Most trouble is caused by people coming out of pubs at the same time, at least this way it will be staggered.

[kaktus]

I don't know exactly what my opinion on this is. E.g. in Denmark most pubs and discos can get a license to be open as long as they like. I've never been to a disco that closed before five in the morning. Pubs usually close around one or two but I suspect that is because the customers disappear at that time. I don't think e.g. Copenhagen is a more violent place because of the long opening hours. On the other hand I think that you may have a point, but again, don'�t people just buy their booze from a store and continue drinking as it is now?

[BigDogsWang]

londondave - not sure what you mean? The trouble will be more staggered?

Whether people turn out of Pubs / Clubs at the same time or not, there will always be trouble. In particular, vandalism. A constant stream of p*ssed up teenagers passing you house throughout the night? No thanks.

[BigDogsWang]

*your house

[WaldoMcFroog]

"! I don't agree with the idea of introducing a 'continental' style drinking culture"

The problem in this country is that we *don't* have a continental style drinking culture! In Italy, for example, it's considered most unmanly to be drunk. In France, if drink is a factor in a criminal offence, the sentence will be harsher, rather than it being used as mitigation.

[BigDogsWang]

By Continental drinking culture, I meant 24 hour drinking (sorry). If we could behave (cultured) the same as our European cousins, then I wouldn't have a problem with it.

[georgit79]

I think Britain has a history of yob culture. Therefore, there will always be problems of a drunk and disorderly nature, no matter how long the pubs are open for.

[El D]

Of course we don't have a continental culture - on of the reasons for this is the childish restriction on alcohol the government has kept imposed since ww1. The judges issued a statement saying we should not allow 24h drinking until binge drinking has been addressed - however this is one of the primary causes. I agree there are other underlying problems with alcohol but this is one of them as well.

[metagirl]

growing up on the other side of the pond, I didn't get to drink legally until i turned 21. Thats just one year before graduating from university. at the time, i thought this was a bit of a bum deal, especially when i went to europe and saw all these youngsters knocking em back without any fear of being busted by the police. now living in the UK, i feel sorry for all the young people i see that are ruining their bodies through binge drinking. I still drank before I was 21 but because it wasn't legal, I think it kept us from drinking excessively and you learn how to enjoy yourself without being plastered, which is something that sadly many people here can't do.

[metagirl]

oh yeah, so in reference to the Question - uh, don't agree with 24 hour drinking.

[LeMarchand]

Wow! Last time this topic came up there were a lot more "for" 24hr drinking.

I'm against it, for most of the reasons already mentioned. I wonder why the government are so keen on pushing it through, over objections from the police, judicary and publicans. Could someone be getting a big fat kickback from the breweries?

[stevie21]

Mmmm... Nurses... :-D





Sorry, that's all I have to add to the debate.

[Gef]

Personally I can't see what all the fuss is about. I also am not sure what people mean by "continental style" drinking. In Scotland there have been relaxed drinking laws for many years without any extra problems. The bottom line is that if people want to get drunk then they will get drunk.

[Andy008]

As a nightclub doorman, and with several friends who are police officers, I deal with this sort of stuff every night.

There are no "nice" jobs. All jobs have their downsides - dealing with drunken fools is the applicable one in this case.

As regards the obsession with drinking until they drop, I do not believe the country has it but certainly the student population does. There is a very fine line between having a good time and being an idiot. I would personally allow the new drinking hours, but would raise the legal age to 20.

It will sadly never happen, as alcohol is very big business, and this issue, as with so many other things in life boils down to money.

[LeMarchand]

I too work in a nightclub. While I'd agree that students are (at least when they are "out on the town") a sorry bunch of idiots - with their mantra-like chant of "Student Discount?" - I would say that as annoying as they are, they are far, far less likely to be aggressive than your average lad/chav/chavette. If one was to raise the legal age for drinking in public to combat the majority of those who aren't mature enough to handle their booze 20 is way too low!

[metagirl]

Continuing on from LeMarchand - how about raising the legal drinking age and/or banning drinking in public?

[Artemis]

Having held a Pub licence for 20 years, I have no problem with the new relaxed laws. Every business will fit their opening hours round to suit their business.

There might be the odd business in town centres that will actually be open 24 hours but will be very few and far between. There is nothing more frustrating than when you and a few mates are having a really good time and the bell go's for time. Pubs can now be flexible to suit their own customers without fear of the law for after hours drinking. People will not drink more, just like when all day opening was introduced, drinking will be more spread out.