Drunken Chaos On London Underground

[stevehaigh]

everyone complains about songkran getting out of hand, but obviously the brits have the upper hand on public drunkenness: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/0...bway/index.html

LONDON, England (CNN) -- London's subway system was engulfed by thousands of revelers Saturday night, marking the introduction of an alcohol ban on the mass transit network.

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Revelers hit London's subway system Saturday night to mark the introduction of an alcohol ban.

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Eyewitnesses have described how some drunken partygoers, often dressed in fancy dress, fought, damaged subway trains and vomited.

Authorities were forced to close six stations on the network, including major transportation hubs at Liverpool Street, Baker Street and Euston.

A spokesman for British Transport Police, which patrols the network, said that police had been told of a large "large amount" of disorder and "multiple instances of trains being damaged", causing them to be pulled from service, the UK's Press Association reported, adding: "This was an unfortunate end to what should have been a fun event." There were reports of at least 17 arrests.

Much of the disorder concentrated on the Circle Line, which encircles the center of the city.

Many reports say that the night had begun good-naturedly.

Web programmer, David Mudkips, 25, from east London, told PA that the event was "Like rush hour but fun. There were people's sweaty armpits in my face but I didn't care because I was drinking."

Student Frankie Abbott, 21, also from east London, said earlier in the evening: "It might be fun to do the whole night but I think it's going to get a bit messy. There are guys drinking from funnels already."

Sailor Peter Moore, 35, from Brighton on the southern English coast, told the agency his night was "Drunken, I just downed a can of beer in 10 seconds. It's sweaty on there but I'm going round and round until I vomit."

As the evening progressed the situation deteriorated.

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Photographer Desmond Fitzgerald, 48, from south London, told PA that by 11pm at Gloucester Road subway station he was afraid someone might slip onto the tracks due to the amount of spilt alcohol on the platform.

"At first the atmosphere was happy but anarchic, defiant," he said, with people wearing hats and having a good time.

As the journey progressed, more heavily drunk people joined the train, he added.

"Then a fight broke out between about five people, but because we were so tightly packed in it soon spread throughout the carriage and I had to struggle to escape to the next one," he told PA.

"The atmosphere had really changed by this point. People were ripping off adverts and maps and being sick all over the place.

"When it pulled in to Embankment people fell out and carried on fighting on the platform. Thankfully police were there, and they handled it very well."

Many of those gathered had learnt of the party on social networking Web sites, through groups with names such as "Circle Line Party - Last day of drinking on the tube", which had 850-plus members listed by Saturday lunchtime, and "Party/Flashmob on the Underground", with 1,300-plus names listed.

The anti-drinking strategy was introduced by newly elected London mayor Boris Johnson. He said before the party occurred: "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. The ban has the full support of the Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police.

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"I firmly believe that banning the drinking of alcohol on London's public transport will create a better traveling environment for all Londoners and that if we drive out antisocial behavior and so called minor crime then we will be able to get a firm grip on more serious crime."

But Bob Crow, General Secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union of which many subway staff are members, countered that the ban put workers at greater risk of of attack, reported PA, saying it was "half-baked."

[JetsetBkk]

So glad I don't live there any more.

[CarlBkk]

I was quite surprised to hear that Boris banned tube-drinking. I was never aware that it caused huge problems, or any more problems than drinking in the street. Whenever I was on the tube there would be officeworkers drinking on their way out to a club, which doesn't undermine society in my book.

People rebelling against more and more nanny-state rules..

[chickenslegs]

I was quite surprised to hear that Boris banned tube-drinking. I was never aware that it caused huge problems, or any more problems than drinking in the street. Whenever I was on the tube there would be officeworkers drinking on their way out to a club, which doesn't undermine society in my book.

People rebelling against more and more nanny-state rules..

You were not aware that drinking on the tube caused huge problems.

So, the Met Police, the Transport Police, the Rail Union and the Mayor must be wrong then.

[Tomkagai]

I was quite surprised to hear that Boris banned tube-drinking. I was never aware that it caused huge problems, or any more problems than drinking in the street. Whenever I was on the tube there would be officeworkers drinking on their way out to a club, which doesn't undermine society in my book.

People rebelling against more and more nanny-state rules..

You were not aware that drinking on the tube caused huge problems.

So, the Met Police, the Transport Police, the Rail Union and the Mayor must be wrong then.

Wrong or right....they are still bl**dy facists running the UK at the moment.....just another step closer to the complete police state, any excuse for another law or another fine..

[Scott]

And this is related to Thailand how?

[CarlBkk]

I was quite surprised to hear that Boris banned tube-drinking. I was never aware that it caused huge problems, or any more problems than drinking in the street. Whenever I was on the tube there would be officeworkers drinking on their way out to a club, which doesn't undermine society in my book.

People rebelling against more and more nanny-state rules..

You were not aware that drinking on the tube caused huge problems.

So, the Met Police, the Transport Police, the Rail Union and the Mayor must be wrong then.

No, I guess they've collated the statistics and have good reason. I was just surprised it was the first thing Boris did as, during my 4 years in Central London, I didn't see many (if any) problems on the tube caused by drinking whilst actually on it. The action kind of came out of the blue didn't it?

[PhilHarries]

I was quite surprised to hear that Boris banned tube-drinking. I was never aware that it caused huge problems, or any more problems than drinking in the street. Whenever I was on the tube there would be officeworkers drinking on their way out to a club, which doesn't undermine society in my book.

People rebelling against more and more nanny-state rules..

You were not aware that drinking on the tube caused huge problems.

So, the Met Police, the Transport Police, the Rail Union and the Mayor must be wrong then.

In all the countless times I have used the London Underground all times of the day and night I have never been bothered by drunken louts. Plenty of drunks yes but in all cases they were no trouble to anybody else. This is not saying there was NO trouble but on a scale of 1 to 10 of problems affecting life in London drinking on the tube must hardly rank at all.

The police always play up any problems as it gives them a lever for more pay and/or recruits.

The rail union was against the rule as they saw it as another point of conflict between their members and the travelling public.

And as for dear old Boris, he is a complete tw@t straight out of the Monty Python sketch.

[toptuan]

And this is related to Thailand how?

The other half of drunk Brits are on Walking Street every Fri/Sat night!

[Briggsy]

Try eating a slice of pizza or drinking a can of Coke on a Skytrain station in BKK. You will encounter the 'fascist state' you refer to. With jackboots too.

[ashacat]

Try eating a slice of pizza or drinking a can of Coke on a Skytrain station in BKK. You will encounter the 'fascist state' you refer to. With jackboots too.

You took the words right out of my mouth!!

[kmart]

I was quite surprised to hear that Boris banned tube-drinking. I was never aware that it caused huge problems, or any more problems than drinking in the street. Whenever I was on the tube there would be officeworkers drinking on their way out to a club, which doesn't undermine society in my book.

People rebelling against more and more nanny-state rules..

You were not aware that drinking on the tube caused huge problems.

So, the Met Police, the Transport Police, the Rail Union and the Mayor must be wrong then.

Wrong or right....they are still bl**dy facists running the UK at the moment.....just another step closer to the complete police state, any excuse for another law or another fine..

A "police state" might be helpful if you'd been robbed, mugged, or assaulted. You might get a copper to turn up within a few hours...

If you're the victim of an Orwellian-sounding "hate crime" though, the cops will be there within 10 minutes c/w counselling specialist.

[bkkmick]

Hey Boris, add some more carriages to the drain. I saw more fisticuffs between blokes trying to squeeze onto the drain tube than between drunks when I lived there and worked in the city.

[a2396]

And this is related to Thailand how?

YES, One of my posts regarding international border crossing inspection of electronics was deemed not Thai related and deleted. This post has NOTHING to do with Thailand or international issues.

[Tomkagai]

And this is related to Thailand how?

YES, One of my posts regarding international border crossing inspection of electronics was deemed not Thai related and deleted. This post has NOTHING to do with Thailand or international issues.

Didnt realise London wasnt international....maybe missed that day at school..

[TexasRanger]

The OP just fancied a bit of UK bashing, that's all. Typical of the generation of cyber warriors these days. Pathetic.

[lazeeboy]

makes a change to bash the uk ,its normally thailand that gets slaughtered at every level

[kolasaab]

I was quite surprised to hear that Boris banned tube-drinking. I was never aware that it caused huge problems, or any more problems than drinking in the street. Whenever I was on the tube there would be officeworkers drinking on their way out to a club, which doesn't undermine society in my book.

People rebelling against more and more nanny-state rules..

You were not aware that drinking on the tube caused huge problems.

So, the Met Police, the Transport Police, the Rail Union and the Mayor must be wrong then.

Wrong or right....they are still bl**dy facists running the UK at the moment.....just another step closer to the complete police state, any excuse for another law or another fine..

Or another tax