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I use the tube whenever I go out into London and I have had less bad experiences with drunk people than I do leaving the local pub, by the time everyone is smashed they are getting night buses home and most aren't drinking, just have naps before the cold walk home. Banning drinking on the tube is a pointless move that Boris is using as a way to prove that he isn't just a clown with a stupid haircut.

- Nova, London

Perhaps the organiser will be joining his friend in losing his job. Clearly he is immature and disruptive. I do agree with another writer, however, that like a lot of other laws which we are being swamped with, there will be no one to enforce this alcohol drinking ban.

- Neil, Gloucestershire, England.

The weekend’s events are surely proof of what the real matter in question should be here. Drinking is not the problem, 99.9% of people drink responsibly. Responsible drinkers shouldn’t be punished for the actions of a minority. Irresponsible drinking is a problem throughout society, not simply on London Transport. I don’t think anybody should be worrying about the single alcoholic drink the majority of people would drink en route, it’s the number of drinks that will be drunk before/after using London Transport that will continue to cause any problems.

To hear that such a ban may also be implemented on national rail services makes me quite angry. Being able to have a quiet drink on my way to a weekend destination is one of the few reasons I choose to use public transport. Maybe in future I shall feel inclined to join the irresponsible society that it is clearly assumed we are all part of? After all, drink driving surely can’t be has risky as everyone makes out can it?

- Pete Carvell, London, UK

So - a badly organised party where people turn up and get drunk and spoil it justifies a ban on all parties everywhere does it? Better ban all consumption of alcohol anywhere just in case.

Better still - all personal interaction on the trains and tubes should be illegal to avoid the chance of upsetting sober sensible people on the Tube happening. At the very least anyone behaving 'abnormally' (to be defined by the 'normal' people) should be made a jailable offence - particularly on public transport which should only be available to sensible non-drinking individuals who swear that they are not going to take advantage of their privileged position.

Maybe there'd be enough room in the trains for all legitimate travellers without having to make such close friends with their fellows then?

I'll get me coat...

- P33t, St Albans

I love travelling on the subways in Singapore and Tokyo - alcohol and food are completely forbidden, and if you try to defy the law, the transport police will soon let you know the consequences. Okay, Singapore is a bit of an authoritarian state - so what? We could do with a strong dose of this set-up on the trains and buses here - I'm all for it.

- Dave, London N10

What a pathetic and disgusting spectacle. This totally vindicates the mayor's decision to ban drinking on the tube. I am baffled at Bob Crow's frankly stupid comments, too...is he seriously suggesting the ban could make the tube more dangerous for staff?

- Mark, London

Quite honestly I think Alexandre Graham and organisers from other groups, need to grow up and take responsibility for their actions. And if he or others doesn't get the sack, they should think themselves extremely lucky.

All this for the last chance to have a drink on the tube - grow up and get a life. One that doesn't impinge on ordinary Londoners, the police, emergency services and others that have to use the Tube and shouldn't have to face / deal with situations such as what happened.

- Flo, London, UK

What a sad generation!

Yes I like a drink, no I'm not old, and yes I use the Tube. Would I want to drink on a moving train? I think not!

If this is the best the "Facebook Generation" can think of they're not very inventive.

Warehouse parties in the 80s - now you're talking! They were fun, well organised & didn't involve the police dragging away drunks. (The only thing they tried to do in the 80s was to grab the sound system!)

- Scott, London

I think a lot of people are confusing "drinking" on public transport with "being drunk and disorderly" and public transport. The majority of the time I see folks drinking on the tube is on the way into Central London early on a Saturday night. They are not drunk or badly behaved. Later on, on their way home, people are drunk and badly behaved, but in most cases they have stopped drinking - as they have already had enough thank you very much. We have legislation to deal with this, but it's not enforced.

This is a stupid ban, completely pointless and difficult (and unlikely) to be enforced. Are officers going to check every thermos flask, or coke can in case someone has swapped the contents? Of course not.

And as for those calling for the banker to be sacked, can they please explain what he has done wrong? He's done nothing illegal or immoral as far as I can tell. His only mistake was to misjudge the strength of feeling against the ban and the numbers that turned up. Naive maybe, but no more. There is absolutely no suggestion that he was involved in any form of affray or criminal damage. It's typical of this snide, envious culture that is peculiarly British with people calling for punishment to satisfy a perverse sense of pleasure at the misfortune of others.

- Sean, London

We pay through the nose to travel cattle class; most drinkers are fine, but this is another case of lazy collective punishment. Most people of course will comply, because obedience is easier than freedom.

- Neil, london uk

If the banker concerned could not foresee how his stupid stunt would end up, it is no wonder that British banking is in such trouble. It was really a disgraceful and shameful performance and those responsible should be prosecuted, frankly.

- Helene Davidson, London

What kind of brainless moron thinks it would be a good idea to organise such an event in the first place? I'm surprised this useless man got a job in the first place. It's people like him that make me think the return of public flogging wouldn't be such a bad idea.

- Steve K, England

I presume Jane from Tilbury has never faced a group of drunken youths late night on a tube train, it's an experience I wouldn't wish on anybody. I'm all for the ban well done Boris.

- Stanley Bilo, London

So it's the fault of the Mayor that so many people got drunk, made fools of themselves and lost control? Get a grip people, take responsibility for yourselves and stop blaming anyone else because you are unhappy.

Contrary to what you may believe, it was not a pleasant and happy atmosphere caught up in it as I made my way home after work. What an impression for tourists and others from outside town.

- Eddie, London

I hope my bank account is being looked after by someone who can go fifteen minutes without a drink.

- Mark, London

A City banker? At his age? Stupid boy. There is one letter wrong in his description.

- Annabelle, london

Drinking on public transport is disgusting and he was right to ban it. If anything these idiots have just proved him right. It makes me ashamed to be English.

- Katherine, London

How can this ban not be a good thing, I accept it will be difficult to enforce but this country has to change what it sees as acceptable.

Is it right to say people should be allowed to drink, be violent and cause problems for everyone (Which this event highlights) just because its easier than doing something about it?

If this country is going to get back on track, we need more "unpopular" decisions like this made.

- Chris, Essex

Hardly any surprise that it was a banker who started this - sums up the arrogance that the "profession" now has. Remind me, what's the rhyming slang for banker? No wonder I made the right decision to move away from London some years ago! We may have some problems with drunken yobs out here in the sticks, but people are generally more respectful of others. Hope the Mayor's policies work - it's about time these idiots were made to consider others.

- Pete Woods, Worcester

Why on earth do people want to drink on the tube - find a pub/bar/restaurant or your own home for goodness sake - get a life - drinking on the tube is totally unnecessary - and as the protesters showed very well - the behaviour of those drinking can be quite vile - I hope they are all suitably embarrassed at having ruined so many peoples evenings and wasted precious police time.

- Katie, Herts, UK

British nationals travel all over the world and show off their bad behaviour.
This is another outlet to express their violence and show what they are capable of doing to one another.

- Rajiv, New Delhi, India

It's ridiculous to suggest this reaction was warranted by the stupidity of the rule being imposed. Is London so short of places to drink people have to get tanked on the Tube? How about supporting our home-grown pub trade which could use the custom!

- Julia Blake, London

If you make stupid rules and laws people will break them. Non-news really.

- Ben Robinson, Brighton, UK

Rather than blaming Boris for everything, shouldn't we be blaming the immature, pathetic, chinless wonders who can't handle their drink and have badly embarrassed the country.

I love drinking and do it all the time....but there's seriously something wrong with people if they can't survive without a drink on the way to the pub. Who wants to drink alcohol on a dirty smelly urine stained train anyway?

- Joe, Bristol

Well, I've been living in London for 10 years now, the number of people I've actually seen on the underground there to actually drink alcohol on the underground number at 2.

2 homeless guys that obviously was on the underground to just sit there and drink alcohol.

The rest of the people I've seen actually drinking alcohol on the trains, are usually the ones on the way home from a night out and are already thoroughly smashed, or on the way to a night out, banning them from drinking alcohol on the train makes absolutely no difference if they're already smashed, and it is true brings the minority of 'bad' drunks in dangerous conflicts with tube staff that have to confront them about not bringing alcohol on the trains resulting in unnecessary physical confrontations.

What would be much more effective would be banning drunk or Alcohol high people on the underground, but that would probably be a step too far.

Pff only thing this 'law' does is tempt people to do it, just to spite it. Whereas before the only people possibly at all interested in just sitting on trains drinking alcohol are the homeless just finding a warm place to rest and drink.

Silly idea, which ultimately will probably make things worse than better.

- B L, London

Chill out people! It was only a party on the tube! Worst things have happened! Its always the old fuddy duddies that complain about things like this. If it had happened in your day you would have loved it! Stop being so boring everyone!

- Lauren, London

I'd just like to say that the police were definitely not in the best of moods! They were making examples out of those they arrested. I watched 1 man being pinned to the floor and 20 officers stampeed past to help... 20 against 1, no wonder the violence started to escalate!

I personally only went to toast all the fun times I'd had on the tube with beer. Although a police woman saw an opportunity to target the quietest person at the station and took my drink out of my hand with no explanation.

To say the police didn't enjoy the power trip would definitely be a lie.

PS. the female police officer put my drink down and I picked it staight back up again... you cant enforce the law if the law hasn't been brought in yet!

- Beth, London

I fully support Boris' policy to outlaw alcohol consumption on the tube. I would like to see this extended to any public place that does not have a licences for the consumption of alcohol i.e. every street and park!

- Adam, Harrow, UK

Freedom cannot exist without responsibility: These yobs were clearly infringing the freedom of other travellers to travel safely on the tube. Boris was completely right to impose the rules, and the irresponsible actions of the revellers was simply proof that decent, respectful, and responsible consumption of alcohol is beyond them, and that rules, therefore, are required.

- Nik Frengle, Basingstoke, UK

Well done Boris at last someone has the guts to stop booze on public
transport which everyone uses at some time and does not want to be
around when things like this kick off!.

ex, British Rail fireman.

- Alan, willenhall england

I was hoping this would turn out to be a good-natured very English protest and party. Instead they proved that Boris is right to ban them!

- Nigel, London

Behave like animals, get treated like animals

- Luke Simms, London

Each and every one of these drunken louts should be banned from public transport for at least a year for every offence. No one has the "right" to behave like an animal in public, but the law abiding decent and sober members of society have a right to be protected from the violence and intimidation that alcohol invariably causes. Good on you Boris. I wish we could have a national ban on public consumption of alcohol, but while the government is making money from the tax on drink I must dream on!

- Mango, Worcester Park UK

Not only has Boris been proved right - but I find it deeply suspicious that (from what I have seen of the reported utterances of Mr Crowe and Co) Bob Crowe's lot and and the British Transport Police did not make any effort, seemingly, to enforce the current laws against being drunk and disorderly in a public place - until it was too late. Did they want things to get bad so that they could say "I told you so" and make political capital out of it?

- Trexie, London

Obviously a stupid idea – will be impossible to enforce, what a waste of taxpayers money. I’ve never seen anyone behave aggressively drunk on the tube until now. My friend filmed a video of the night, shows the true extent of the chaos.

- Tom, London

And they wonder why he wanted to ban it?

There's a right and a wrong place to drink. Public transport is a 'wrong place'. Apart from the smell of someone else's drink, there's just something peculiarly sad about having to drink on public transport.

Only twenty-one years ago people were still smoking on the tube, underground, and there were smoking and non-smoking carriages, with wooden floors. People wouldn't want to see that again, so what is wrong with banning alcohol?

- George, London

Proves Boris was right to bring the ban in. Well done!

- Jason, London

I m not a fan of Johnson, but, unfortunately, the trailer trash minority have proved him right. Most people are fine on the tubes, but you always get those that cant hold there drink and make it a nightmare for the rest of us. Problem is, most are totally drunk before they get on so I cant see this will make much difference.

- Tina, Rayleigh, Essex

Not the ban that caused the trouble, but the drunks. Doesn't that actually prove Boris' point?

- Philip, London, England

It is not the ban but Mr Graham who is ridiculous. As a person with presumably an education as well as a good job it is a pity he does not try to behave better than those who cannot help being yobs. The ban does not go far enough. In Hong Kong the MTR (underground) does not allow eating, drinking or smoking. Consequently travelling on public transport is clean and pleasant and one does not have to ask oneself whether it is safe to travel late at night.

- Andrew, Hong Kong

It was obvious that the "party" was going to end up like this. Shame on everyone who was involved.

- Oscar Piper, London

Maybe the people who think this rule is nonsense should take a look at themselves and wonder why they can't go for a tube ride without a drink. You don't really rip adverts off, intimidate staff and travellers, wee anywhere and generally chat poo, on a cup of tea!

- Jo, London

Obviously I'm from "Up North", but I didn't know you could drink booze on the tube. I personally think it was stupid to allow drinking on what was one of the most crowded transport systems in the world. What on earth would want to make anyone want to drink down there. I always wanted to out as soon as my journey was over. The only drinkers I ever saw were the ones who seemed to be mouthy show offs, who were looking for trouble in any case. As far as the RMT guys statement goes, he's just looking to save his members any hassle. He knows they'll get trouble when they start trying to enforce this rule. As far as he's concerned better the travelling public "put up" with boorish drunks, than his members do their job.

- John, Up North, UK

@ Charlie Clark:

Hear hear.

- John, London. UK

I would hate the chap to lose his job over this as he cannot be responsible for other peoples actions. I also think it was a shame that facebook has been brought into more disrepute. Why does anyone need alcohol on transport. In the scheme of world troubles today this is really really pathetic.

- Jane Tilbury, London

Is there still a bar on the eastbound platform of the Metropolitan & Circle lines at Liverpool street station?
When commuted through the station about 35 years ago, I was bemused to see it there.

- Eric Osman, Milton Keynes UK

This just proves what we all now believe this country is out of control, good drinking has been banned on the tube, why shouldn't it be, we deserve to travel in a safe environment it is bad enough that we are crammed into trains like sardines let alone that we were allowed to do it drinking, it is not fair on the outstanding and courteous people who wish to get to and from London every day. Yet as soon as a new mayor shows he has a pair and comes up with a good idea this happens, this is not the mayors fault it is the small minded individuals who are just out to cause trouble. I will be voting for the conservatives in the future, they are not scared of making decisions that need to be made well done.

- Jason, witham, essex

We can at least be grateful that the vested interest in this provoked chaos has been exposed. I thought this no-booze ban was a sensible, cross-party initiative. It is too dismal that Bob Crow seizes political opportunity to belly ache, regardless of the merits. Bob, your members can’t stop fifty hooligans drinking, and wouldn’t. Heaven forbid, if fifty hooligans were raping a female passenger, they couldn’t either. No ban can be enforced totally. But it will cut down tube boozing. The left/right Ken/Boris divide is pathetic, and the Ken faction are coming out of it about as well as the ‘toff’ campaign in Nantwich and Crewe did. Grow up, guys. Our Mayor, like his predecessor is democratically elected. Debate intelligently and wait your turn.

- Paul, London

Perhaps access to facebook should be "blocked" to British residents?

Interesting to note the calibre of Royal Bank of Scotland employees these days?

I wonder how much unavoidable "additional costs" were incurred by London Underground to deal with this melee and its aftermath?

To think that any 26 year old (is this individual an "adult" or a "child", as it is extremely unclear?) would give a reason "for doing something so stupid" as . . . "because a female friend who worked in a senior position for former mayor Ken Livingstone lost her job following Boris Johnson’s election victory", is absolutely ludicrous!

Shame on you, Alexandre Graham, for trying to pull a "fast one" on the public given that you were apparently "the organiser" behind the Tube drinking ban protest!

Would it be fair for the public assume that you were a "regular drinker" on the tube and that was the "real reason" behind your protest at the drinking ban?

The Royal Bank of Scotland must be extremely proud of you! Perhaps you really do "project the image" that the bank wants, who knows?

Maybe, Alexandre Graham, you should do the honourable thing and "immediately resign from the bank" and seek employment as an assistant on Ken Livingstone's radio show?

- Fraser, Telford Park

Typical stupidity, just proves the new law to ban alcohol was the right thing to do. English yob culture at its best. Ashamed to be English.

- Lyndsey, Birmingham

My husband and I were returning home from holiday and took the tube from Heathrow. I was really worried about what I saw, more because of the fact that I had been out of the country for 4 weeks and did not know that there would be a "alcohol fuelled" party taking place on the tubes, if I had I would have stayed in the lounge of the airport than come face to face with these "mobs". To think that an educated city banker was behind all this! Hope he does lose his job! Might make anybody else think before they do something like this again!

- Anoymous, Essex

Sack the banker; give him a criminal record for incitement to damage; make him pay the cost of this in instalments for the rest of his life so that he can never lead a normal life with his little mortgage etc but even never has any money to buy drink.

- Felis, London

The fault for this lies with the rule-mongers who place rules and order above freedom and truth. Pity they didn't manage to destroy a few stations.

- Neil, london uk

A disastrous first month for Johnson, makes up policies on the hoof, swans off on holiday and leaves Londoners to sort out his mess. This was always a daft ban, utterly impossible to police without extra staff and likely to place tube workers in awkard, potentially violent encounters. What a joke of a mayor!

- Claire Pullen, London

Pretty much proves that he's right. It is a peculiarly British thing to need a drink on the way to or from going out for a drink.

- Charlie Clark, London England

What a ridiculous rule. This won't stop the problem. People are already intoxicated when they cause violence or other problems. What is Boris going to do, breathalyse everyone before they are allowed into the stations?

- Daizy, N England

This is why Boris is right. Many people can be trusted to drink without causing trouble or making others feel threatened. However a large and growing proportion of travellers with alcohol on the tube cannot be trusted and make others feel uncomfortable or down right fearful. The RMT's comments show them up for the ridiculous organisation they are. Why is it the the British feel unable to have fun only if alcohol is involved?

- Peter Haldane, London

I am so proud of the nation we have become!

- Stuart, Luton, UK

I never cease to be amazed at how Facebook manages to get it's name in the news every other day! There's no such thing as 'bad' publicity . . .

On a different note - how bizarre the number of people who want to photograph a drunk on the underground in the pic above.

- Roz, Chamonix, France

Of course it was going to get out of hand, a bit of PR led legislation to grab the headlines and make it look like Boris has the initiative on transport and crime? er hello?

Good on people for making a fuss - sadly the focus of the protest was always going to end in some rum proceedings.

We all know this is yet another sledgehammer bit of legislation to crack a nut, a bar snack nut, and not the serious disorder and crime such as knife attacks which are a real problem in our society across the country.

- Pete Marsh, Birmingham

What a waste, welcome to the UK.

- Joe, London

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