No drinking and no drunks policy?

[trainophile]

Regardless of the potential for actual violence, which thankfully seems to be pretty rare, the effect on some people's inhibitions of several alcoholic drinks consumed in rapidity can offend other passengers who are not involved in the relevant group. I particularly mean the inability to construct a sentence without at least three uses of the *F* word, usually in a loud voice!

Even in an otherwise cheerfully intoxicated environment, that is still, rightly or wrongly, something that offends a considerable number of (generally older) people.

These "loveable rogues" sometimes slur an apology and look gigglingly embarrassed, then promptly carry on with more of the same.

Perhaps those offended just need to 'get a life', but it's indicative of yet another decline in consideration and standards.

 

[Get-Pulled-Off]

Regardless of the potential for actual violence, which thankfully seems to be pretty rare, the effect on some people's inhibitions of several alcoholic drinks consumed in rapidity can offend other passengers who are not involved in the relevant group. I particularly mean the inability to construct a sentence without at least three uses of the *F* word, usually in a loud voice!

Even in an otherwise cheerfully intoxicated environment, that is still, rightly or wrongly, something that offends a considerable number of (generally older) people.

These "loveable rogues" sometimes slur an apology and look gigglingly embarrassed, then promptly carry on with more of the same.

Perhaps those offended just need to 'get a life', but it's indicative of yet another decline in consideration and standards.

I agree up to a point in that, as a responsible member of society (or so I think) I will show consideration for others as much as practically possible. However the moment we go down the road of "nobody must ever be offended ever", then it risks turning us into a very dull and grey society.

For example, late night trains on a Friday and Saturday are well known to be loud and boisterous. The majority on board are heading for or from a night out. You wouldn't board one of these trains expecting a peaceful journey, and should make allowances for that fact. That's NOT excusing lewd or threatening behavior, but just acknowledging that its conversations are going to be loud and colourful. However the quid pro quo to that is that if you're a group of mates heading away Saturday morning for a weekend, you should expect that it will be full of families that won't take kindly to drunken antics and you modify your behavior accordingly. I think that's fair, don't you?

One thing that does get on my nerves though, is adults bringing children into what what I would could "proper drinking boozers". I go there with a mate to have no holds barred chat about life, and sometimes conversations are highly unsuitable for minors. But we choose our pubs carefully, and stay well away from "Wacky Warehouse" types. If kids do come in, we will move if there is room. If there isn't, its tough luck. So consideration does work both ways!

 

[yorksrob]

I agree up to a point in that, as a responsible member of society (or so I think) I will show consideration for others as much as practically possible. However the moment we go down the road of "nobody must ever be offended ever", then it risks turning us into a very dull and grey society.

For example, late night trains on a Friday and Saturday are well known to be loud and boisterous. The majority on board are heading for or from a night out. You wouldn't board one of these trains expecting a peaceful journey, and should make allowances for that fact. That's NOT excusing lewd or threatening behavior, but just acknowledging that its conversations are going to be loud and colourful. However the quid pro quo to that is that if you're a group of mates heading away Saturday morning for a weekend, you should expect that it will be full of families that won't take kindly to drunken antics and you modify your behavior accordingly. I think that's fair, don't you?

One thing that does get on my nerves though, is adults bringing children into what what I would could "proper drinking boozers". I go there with a mate to have no holds barred chat about life, and sometimes conversations are highly unsuitable for minors. But we choose our pubs carefully, and stay well away from "Wacky Warehouse" types. If kids do come in, we will move if there is room. If there isn't, its tough luck. So consideration does work both ways!

An extremely sensible and balanced post IMO.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Alcohol should be banned by every TOC, at all times of day. And it definitely should be banned from being sold on trains and in stations. There is no reason whatsoever to have an alcoholic drink on a train. If you need to quench your thirst then there are plenty of other drinks to choose from. There is nothing worse than feeling threatened by a drunk person on a train and feeling helpless.

If you believe in democracy why not instigate a referendum and let the majority of passengers decide - if not then you need to try and formulate a coup to install the kind of dictatorship that will impose the bans you want.

Have to admit I typed this after a long train journey where I consumed a beer or two

 

[VauxhallandI]

Not down here it isn't! When there are rugby internationals in Cardiff, few traditional rugby fans can afford to attend so it has become a haven for what we call 'the pink sparkly cowboy hat brigade'/ In short, these ar epeople with no real interest in rugby as a sport, but with a great interest in having a day out on the drink, even if they don;t see much of the actual game!

I went to Murrayfield the other week and it cost me £35 for the ticket, not that far out of reach?

 

[Squaddie]

Drinking is not like smoking at all. The vast majority of people that drink alcohol cause absolutely zero problems for anyone else. They drink more or less responsibly, and don't become loud/violent/etc when drunk. Those who do become violent when drunk tend to be aggresive idiots when sober too.

People who drink on trains do tend to become noisier and more boisterous as a result of the alcohol, causing annoyance to other passengers. Of course, because they're under the influence of alcohol they are quite unaware that they're being loud and obnoxious, insisting that four or five cans has no effect on them whatsoever...

Maybe there should be a separate carriage for the drinkers? (In addition to carriages for the eaters, the walkman-wearing crowd and the people who want to tap on a laptop all the way).

 

[yorksrob]

Since I often eat, drink, listen to a walkman and have been known to tap away on a computer on the train, it would give me a bit of a dilemma as to where to sit

 

[Greenback]

I went to Murrayfield the other week and it cost me £35 for the ticket, not that far out of reach?

With the greatest of respect to Scotland, the interest in rugby union does not really compare to Wales!

It ha sbene difficult for a few years to fill Murrayfield, even for the Six Nations matches, hence the prices tend to be less high than in Cardiff. (I was going to say lower, but it didn't feel right!)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I agree up to a point in that, as a responsible member of society (or so I think) I will show consideration for others as much as practically possible. However the moment we go down the road of "nobody must ever be offended ever", then it risks turning us into a very dull and grey society.

For example, late night trains on a Friday and Saturday are well known to be loud and boisterous. The majority on board are heading for or from a night out. You wouldn't board one of these trains expecting a peaceful journey, and should make allowances for that fact. That's NOT excusing lewd or threatening behavior, but just acknowledging that its conversations are going to be loud and colourful. However the quid pro quo to that is that if you're a group of mates heading away Saturday morning for a weekend, you should expect that it will be full of families that won't take kindly to drunken antics and you modify your behavior accordingly. I think that's fair, don't you?

One thing that does get on my nerves though, is adults bringing children into what what I would could "proper drinking boozers". I go there with a mate to have no holds barred chat about life, and sometimes conversations are highly unsuitable for minors. But we choose our pubs carefully, and stay well away from "Wacky Warehouse" types. If kids do come in, we will move if there is room. If there isn't, its tough luck. So consideration does work both ways!

As Yorksrob said, this is a good post. I am far more irritated by hen parties drinking and shrieking on a Saturday morning than I would ever be by boisterous behaviour on a Friday or Saturday night. I find that groups of women tend to be louder and more badly behaved than men when they start their weekend celebrations, though this is usually, but not always, reversed later on in the day.

 

[island]

With the greatest of respect to Scotland, the interest in rugby union does not really compare to Wales!

And congratulations on smashing England

 

[455driver]

Since I often eat, drink, listen to a walkman and have been known to tap away on a computer on the train, it would give me a bit of a dilemma as to where to sit

On the roof!

 

[yorksrob]

On the roof!

Now I'm pretty certain that that would be frowned upon in some quarters of this hallowed forum