I'm not sure exactly what point you're trying to make here as you've made a fairly general statement, but schemes such as this will benefit working class taxpayers because it's one less thing they have to worry about paying for. A day out with two adults and three kids can be expensive by public transport and not every family has access to a car; by allowing the kids go free it may allow some families to afford to have a day out that would have otherwise been unaffordable. The money saved might then be spent on other things like fish and chips, ice cream or whatever you care to mention - it doesn't really matter as the money will be fed back into the economy. Some of that money will go back to the exchequer through businesses paying income/corporation taxes, and also through VAT.
Sadly, some people have become fixated on the issue of anti-social behaviour while completely ignoring the fact that many more will be taking advantage of their free travel and not causing trouble. I'm not sure if it's a general disdain for young people or perhaps a bit of jealousy because it's something they didn't get when they were younger, but it's becoming rather tiresome to hear the same voices moaning about a scheme that's designed to make people's lives a bit easier when the cost of everything else has rocketed in recent years.
I assume that the "disproportionate number sucking the country dry" you refer to are the billionaires who do their utmost to avoid paying taxes, right?
Unfortunately, we seem to have some people who are very black/white, or on/off, in their views without appreciating nuance... though this might also be reflection of times today?? (strokes chin)
Anti-social behaviour will be experienced in some instances and locations, and not in others. I've seen perfectly well behaved kids taking advantage of the scheme and been perfectly well behaved. I do think it may be an issue in certain places and times, and for whatever reason, bus stations can be a magnet for bored kids anyway
and always have been bizarrely. That's not to say that we shrug our shoulders and perhaps the issue of unaccompanied kids (esp travelling after 6pm) should've been envisaged for safeguarding reasons in any case.
There is a real question of how this schemes are being funded and the benefits that accrue. For this, it enables kids to head into town for nothing, and so a theoretical saving for the hard pressed parents. The question is how many of those journeys would've taken place before and so are the parents saving anything? My observations, FWIW, is that many kids are early-mid teens and they're heading out with friends. For that reason, I'm less convinced of the argument on the merits that this will somehow release benefits back into the economy and be a net benefit in terms of economic activity. They're not saving money... they're spending it in a different place but with a bus fare that is being paid by the tax payer. Undoubtedly, there will be some families getting a benefit from it but in the round, I don't know if it's really a good use of money.
At times on this forums, it does almost seem like heresy to suggest that giving transport away for free isn't a good thing. It'll reduce car use, improve the environment, etc are the common refrains - it doesn't. The experience in Tallinn was that it didn't change car use - what it did do was encourage people to catch a free bus, rather than walk or cycle
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2213624X17300858
We shall see what benefit the country sees in the economy but I suspect it'll be negligible.
ps
@GusB - I'm with you on the businesses, billionaires and oligarchs who employ complex financial wheezes and royalty payments to avoid paying tax....Starbucks!
