Alcohol on public transport should be banned
On Thursday 23rd October we caught the 11.15 train from Paddington to Cardiff Central. My husband had reserved two seats with table some two months before. From the onset of the journey four young men who occupied the seats behind us downed endless cans of lager, I suspect they were already drunk when they boarded the train. Their belching and foul language together the high volume of their portable CD player made our journey extremely unpleasant. It was impossible to concentrate to read and our conversation was virtually unheard.
by now they were very drunk - and still drinking...
We hoped when the ticket collector came he would ask them to turn down the noise but he was seen approaching the carriage and when he arrived the music had been switched off and the young men were sitting quietly in their seats. When he left the carriage, the music and swearing continued as loud as before. I had thought of asking the ticket collector to speak to them but I felt he could be intimidated by them as by now they were very drunk - and still drinking, so I said nothing and in any case it would have appeared to the ticket collector I was making a fuss about nothing as the carriage was so quiet and orderly. My stepdaughter whom we were visiting, said I should have texted her about it and she would have phoned the Transport Police. When they left the carriage at Cardiff Central they left behind an empty box and large number of empty lager cans strewn all over the floor. Onne of the lads also had a bag full of beer they were heard talking about it.
We have always enjoyed travelling to Wales by train, my elderly husband especially but on this occasion, although he wouldn't admit it I know he was intimidated by the the anti-social behaviour of these young men. I suggested we moved to another carriage but he was loathe to leave the seats he had pre-booked and in any case, why should we have to?
Could you tell me please what the situation is regarding alcohol being brought and drunk on public transport? Apart from doing as my stepdaughter suggested what should we do if the situation were to happen again? I would be really concerned about trying to get a ticket collector or guard to intervene as who knows what awful outcome would ensue, and I would hate to think someone was harmed in response to our request for help. Thank you for reading this.
By: Mrs C.E.Gardiner
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MerseysideAlice - 18-Jun-10 22:55
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I think it might be under the Railway Byelaws ("Bye Laws" being very aptly named in this case) or Conditions of Carriage - likely the former of the two. If you were to speak to them or the train crew then they should be able to help you and if they don't mention this law to them as they may not know of it.
Of course it does depend where your train is heading...if it's Bristol then "naw hell no" as those trains are often full of chumps.
Same goes regarding the alcohol, speak to train crew.
They can call in advance and have BTP ready to meet the train somewhere and, if needed, arrest people.
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Railway Person - 12-Mar-10 09:40
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I travel on 4 separate train journeys a day, 6 days a week, and have been for the past year, in order to travel to and from work. Im 17 and I understand sometimes that a little drink can relieve a particularly boring journey
The problem is the people drinking it not the location. Wherever you take them they will be the same character as soon as they've had a couple of stellas- So to ban drinking completely on trains would be yet another pointless punishment on the 'average' person who knows how to show a bit of restraint, and only uses it to wind down a bit at the end a long hard week.
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Getting back to the alcohol issue it is kind of frightening when people get drunk I have been on the receiving end of it many times. What I think makes it worse is you can even buy alchohol from the buffett car on the trains. That is sending out the wrong kind of message I think.
Society is getting worse and it's frightening
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no more alcohol - 26-Mar-09 23:20
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I have to say I would like more real ales on our number 13. I get fed up with the beer in cans.Its not the same quality. And it would be nice if our number 82 did a crawl past all the best pubs in town.
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On the Buses - 13-Feb-09 17:15
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Drink Drank Drunk - 30-Nov-08 20:45
I do worry that these types are ruining it for everyone else and it may eventually see a total ban, which would be very disappointing as a few beers is one way to make a long journey less painful!
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Regards
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Having used Trains about 5 times in the last year, I was shocked at how many people were consuming alcohol at all times of the day. One man even got off the train at Westcombe Park only to ride away on a bicycle having just consumed four cans of Special Brew in about 20 minutes! This simply would not have happened 15 years ago and shouldn't be allowed now. It used to be the case that only the last trains of the night were a problem (much the same as the night buses!). Now it happens on trains during anytime of day. Honestly, I enjoy a good drink myself, but there is a time and a place, and the public transportation system is not it. It is as anti-social as smoking and should be dealt with the same way. Come on Britain, this is not about being a Nanny State, its about having some respect, for yourself and for your fellow man/woman/child.
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Angrydadcalledray - 5-Nov-08 16:21
Erm, they still sell alcohol on most trains in this country. And you are not restricted to the dining car to drink it. On some services, they bring a trolley to your seat and you can buy it at your seat! How on earth do you think that a ticket collector on a train can stop them drinking? Also, you are perfectly allowed to consume food and/or drink you have purchased before boarding at your seat, so they couldn't even police it that way.
In response to Mrs. Gardiner and the other comments...
That said, I agree with other comments that anyone causing a nuisance should be removed from the train. Being drunk and disorderly in public is an offence, and the British Transport Police could get involved very easily. If it were to happen in the future, you could ask the ticket collector to come and sit in your carriage, to observe them, while he is not collecting tickets. That's probably unlikely to happen, because on the Intercities there are so many people getting on at each station he probably wouldn't have time.
I would have moved, or asked the ticket collector if there were any free tables in other carriages, at the very least.
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Next time if this happens, go to the on board guard, explain what is happening, explain that they go quiet when he arrives, tell him you fear for you saftey, and that you demand he calls the transport police, it is his duty to take all complaints to the right people, if this involves safety, then he must call the transport police.
do not hesitate next time
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Not a couple of blokes who made a joke, and to their misfortune got absolutely blasted by 10,000 odd Daily Mail reading whingers who probably didn't actually listen to the phone call in question..
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