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Boris slaps drink ban on Tubes and buses
Pippa Crerar, City Hall Editor07.05.08
Alcohol will be banned on Tubes and buses from next month in a bid to crack down on anti-social behaviour, Boris Johnson announced today.
The new Mayor will change the rules of carriage to prohibit drinking and carrying open containers of alcohol on the transport network from 1 June.
Mr Johnson and Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy were today unveiling information posters advising passengers of the ban, which will cover trams, the DLR and station platforms.
The ban was a key manifesto pledge in the Tories' mayoral campaign.
The alcohol ban comes amid reports that the man who cleaned up the streets of New York is to help mastermind Mr Johnson's crime strategy.
US police chief Bill Bratton will advise the new Mayor on how "zero tolerance" of graffiti, fare-dodging and other minor crimes can prevent serious offending.
Mr Johnson said: "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.
"I firmly believe that if we drive out so-called minor crime then we will be able to get a firm grip on more serious crime. That's why from 1 June the drinking of alcohol will be banned from the Tube, tram, bus and Docklands Light Railway.
"The ban is supported by the Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police, and over the next month Transport for London will make the necessary legal changes and consult with staff."
During the election campaign Mr Johnson claimed many Londoners were afraid of taking the Underground at night because of aggressive drunks.
His "get tough" approach came after the Standard revealed that 40 per cent of violent crime in London is alcohol related and that some London A&E units are treating twice as many drunken patients as they did before the 24-hour drinking laws.
Mr Hendy said: "We are already working closely with Boris Johnson and his team to improve safety and security on the transport network.
"I am sure that cutting out boozing on public transport will be welcomed by our passengers and staff." The ban chimes with David Cameron's promise to fight back against social breakdown and is further evidence that the capital will be a test-bed for a future Tory government's policies.
The Conservative leader has committed his party to a zero-tolerance strategy modelled on New York. Mr Cameron says he would increase the number of police on the streets and concentrate on low-level disorder which can lead teenagers into a life of crime.
The Mayor's alcohol ban was also welcomed by alcohol charities.
Don Shenker, chief executive of Alcohol Concern, said: "Public drinking and the behaviour sometimes associated with it can, and does, deeply affect people's ability to enjoy public spaces.
"Taking a firm approach to public drinking in this way sends a strong message that public drunkenness is socially unacceptable and will support both the public and transport staff. This, in the end, is what culture change is all about."
Mr Johnson has also proposed the creation of up to 100 weekend "respect schools" to help troubled teenagers.
Reader views (39)
Banning alcohol on buses who going to enforce this us the drivers?
We have enough trouble with kids who travel for free at all hours of the day and night. The only way to control crime or reduce it is bring back the old system where by after a certain time kids pay adult fares.
Bendi buses what a waste, I have driven these buses and all I took in oyster fares was £3.60 which means only 4 people bother using their cards (suppose thats not bad considering I only did an 8 hour shift)no wander people call this the free bus.
Boris Johnson should start taking away routes from companies who run them badly and start to listen to us drivers.
- Trevor, london
It's about time. Few other capitals allow drink (and food!) to be consumed on public transport.
- Jp Floru, Westminster, London
I do find it strange that the ban only applies to tubes and buses. Maybe the fact that most train companies sell alcohol themselves on board (at very over inflated prices) has something to do with it.
As GMS says the biggest problem with drunks on the underground is people who have been out for the night drinking already, not the poor folk who don't finish work till 11pm and enjoy a single drink during their otherwise depressing journey home.
- Paul, London, UK
I thought he wanted to get away from the Nanny state!? This is utterly pathetic and yet another nail in the coffin of people's civil liberties. I don't know of anyone who has actually sat on a tube all day drinking for a start and secondly most drunken folk tend to be those heading home after a night on the town. What next, breathalyse people at tube stations and refuse entry for those considered to have had too much? I lived in London for nearly seven years and am increasingly of the opinion that Ken / Boris or whoever should focus on redistributing London's massive wealth inequalities if they want to tackle crime and anti social behaviour as opposed to simply creating yet more petty and intrusive laws to appease that least affected of groups - the so called middle class.
Worst of all, ridiculous laws such as this and the smoking ban (as it finally came to be - I was happy with the initial part proposal)have succeeded in sanctioning the Nation's smug little Hitlers to feel they have a right to lecture and snipe at folk who actually pay huge amounts of tax for their little pleasures in life. How long will it take politicians to learn that the more you restrict people's fundamental civil liberties the more angrily people will react...
- Gms, Manchester
Well done Boris, it takes a Conservative to see that certain liberties have to be curtailed for the greater good of all.
- Graham Gilbert, Lancashire
This sounds good, but how is it going to be policed. Also, if somebody/group doesn't stop drinking will that call a halt to the train or bus until the person/group gets off. Good policy but must be thought through. That's why the unions are concerned because the platform staff could be at risk if a whole crowd of drinkers are challenged. Self regulation should be tried first and see how that goes. Nobody wants to sit next door to somebody swigging lager from a tin.
- Paula Newman, London, England
Great decision to ban alcohol in public transport! I would see total ban for all drinking on the streets like in the US.
- Mark, London
To Ben White, I thought students are so poor they can hardly afford to eat! If all your concerns are about your drinking sessions, society does not need to engage your vote. Public transport is about the majority of the population who need to get to work in comfort and safety.
- Beatriz, London
Great stuff from Boris, all the alcoholics who can't manage a bus ride without a can of lager will just have to drown their sorrows when they back to their doss houses. Let's hope for more action on law and order, and ignore the howls of protest from the leftie losers.
- Graham Doll, London, UK
Here in Hong Kong all food and drink are banned. Punishment is a hefty fine and the ban is enforced. The trains are impeccable, but they are also near 100% reliable and air-conditioned so you don't die of dehydration.
- Nick, Hong Kong
As a student who ravely uses public transport I wondered how the new mayor will affect me. Now I find out he attacking my basic student instincts when I dont use public transport (mainly going to/from drinking sessions). What a way to engage the student vote!
- Ben White, Central London
So, presumably those wailing about the ban of drinking alcohol on tube trains are doing so because:
1) They are Kensitas still sore that their 'Dear Leader' got ousted and will attack anything the new mayor does. ("Disgraceful! He'll be against children armed with knives, yet! The nerve of the man! Who does he think he is? The Mayor?" I can imagine them chuntering.)
2) "Life style choice supporters who believe everyone has a right to a lifestyle of their choice. Except ordinary people, one must presume.
- Martin, Shropshire
Bad enough that this over-pumped cotton bud is now mayor of toy town, but really what is this all about?...as if transport staff don't have enough to deal within the capital..lets force them to feel it's also their job to police crowds of drunk yobs...and who gets the crappy deal apart from them?...people like me, who enjoy a beer on a long tube home that can take around half an hour, the easy target, I can hear it now, 'no drinking on the tube' whilst the bunch of unapproachable yobs whom this 'law' has been enforced to stop, continue to do so comfortable in their bubble of unapproachable-ness.
This doesn't remotely address the issue of unsociable behaviour in public places, which I can't tolerate at all. From where I stand it's more like propaganda, a headline grabber, and a poorly thought out and rushed decision that might make Boris feel powerful for a day, nice one
- Jonny, London
It's obvious who the obnoxious drinkers are - they always have cans and they're young lads or die-hard alcoholics usually shouting at the top of their voices. If this lot are going to be so canny as to a) switch to vodka b) disguise it in a water bottle in advance just so they can drink on the tube for a couple of stops, then I will be impressed. Who cares if some quieter and cannier drinkers go undiscovered, it's the loud mouths we all want chucked off. The mere sight of anyone with a can in their hand on the train puts me on amber alert as they ain't usually sober. But what will happen when there's a footie match is on I wonder? I haven't seen anyone smoke on the tube for years either, maybe they're still taking the mick on the buses?
- Helen Maher, West Hampstead
There is one thing that was a certainty and that is the RMT's bully boy Crow would be against the idea.
Crow and his band of low life will be trying very hard to find the next excuse to strike because they no longer have the left wing Livingstone and they hate democracy.
High time these people started doing what they are paid for getting people to work every day and not just when they feel like it.
- K Harrop, hertford uk
I'm a perfectly responsible adult, I've never got aggressive on the tube, I've never shouted at anyone. I've stood up for others that have been abused.
I have however enjoyed a cold boy on route to a good night out. It hasn't hurt anyone and has added to my journey.
I can't see the reason for this. It looks like a headline catching action that won't provide results. People that are abusive on tubes don't do this because they are allowed to drink on the tube. They do it because they are already drunk or just vile scum. This legislation won't make a jot of difference
- Delphi, London
Good for you, Boris - I'm sure there are flaws in this new ruling, but let's hope it's a start to less anti-social behaviours on public transport in London.
- Tish Nessex, Nr Halstead, Essex
Excellent Boris. Now please do away with the smelly burgers.
- Annabelle, London
Maybe Boris would care to add food to the ban... fed up with being knee deep in McDougal wrappers and cartons.
- Stephen, London
About time - if it annoys the RMT Union then I am all for it. Perhaps they should stick to train driving or is it because they have indulged in the same loutish and boorish behaviour in their union meetings that the ban is aimed at addressing.
- Alastair Adams, Worcester Park, Surrey
Drinking is already banned on most buses, that's why the people who still drink on buses put their alcohol inside their jacket or bag whilst getting on the bus (so that the driver doesn't see) and then take it out and consume once upstairs on the bus.
This no drink policy is not possible to enforce unless you put police on every bus all day....and that's not going to happen is it...(we all know that labour and conservatives aren't well known for putting more police on the beat or spending money on public services)!
So to summarise... Boris has proposed a policy which already exists and is in place, but is completely flawed and effectively useless!
He's even more of a clown than I first thought!
- James Griffin, Birmingham,uk
I'm not sure why this is being announced as a new ban - this is nothing new, at least not on the tube. Consumption, carrying, and being under the influence of alcohol are already "banned" under the railway bylaws and have been for years. The fact that they have never been widely enforced previously just shows how unworkable this is.
- Seth, London
These seem like two good proposals. Drinking alcohol on public transport is all too often the prelude to loutish behaviour and the respect schools will hopefully teach youngsters the meaning of true respect and it is not about carrying or using weapons. Well done Boris, I wish you success.
- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK
This policy is a non-starter. How do you stop somebody carrying on a bottle of mineral water (which London Underground will soon be urging passengers to carry with them again as temperatures rise). Mineral water and vodka look the same so do you get enough police to "taste" every bottle?
- Mikko Takala, Drumnadrochit, Scotland
Sounds like a good idea - can it be extended to ban smelly food like burgers and such?
- Brian Clapham, London
This is a step in the wrong direction, gyrating yet more misery. Why, I will no longer be able to carry a jug of Pimm's on the tube to a party.
What we really need is licensed buffet cars on all tube trains, preferably starting with the circle line, then we can all become happy again.
- Peter, London UK
3 cheers for Boris! Why have we had to wait so long for this? What sensible reason cold there be for drinking on public transport?
- Mark, London, UK
Great, so now this guy is making criminals out of folk chilling on a beer going to a friend's house by the tube. What next, prohibition. He's only been in a few days and already he's behaving like a power mad nut job.
NIt's already illegal to smoke on buses and the tube and yet people still do that. This ban is headline grabbing nonsense. Well done, Boris!
- Paulo Uccello, London UK
No doubt there will be an increase in stabbings on the tube when this law is enforced by the general public!
Remember the poor bloke who told a schizophrenic to stop throwing chips...
Ha!
- Graham, London
Good for Boris. Now slap a ban on loud music, shouting and threatening behaviour.
- Helen, Norwich
How will this ban be enforced? I don't see many police on the Tube these days. All these bans serve to do is to deter the sensible folk who might have had a beer on the way to the football or gig, not the people hell-bent on getting drunk and intimidating people.
- Phil, London, UK
Presumably it will still be okay to smoke cannabis on buses though as I've never seen anyone be thrown of for smoking it despite complaints from other travellers.
- Robert Hope, Camden
I think the banning of alcohol on public transport is a step in the right direction. But the "respect schools" for teenagers. I am not sure what that is meant to achieve. And it sounds like a euphemism for 're-education centre'. I would like to think that the approach for teenagers is to empower them to be good, rather than teach them to do good!
- Justin, Cambridge
Great! But, we need police to enforce the ban. Joe public is too afraid to point out to anybody that they are breaking the law.
- Beatriz, London
Good idea, but who is going to enforce it?
- Neil Grinsell, london
I doubt this will help, its people that are already drunk (not drinking while on the transport) that cause most of the problems.
- Rebecca, London
Let's hope it's more successful than the "ban" on violence, sexual assault and vandalism. I can't remember the last time I saw a copper or LU employee on a Tube, and I use it every day. Usual bluster with no substance.
- Keith, King's Cross
How about going one further Boris - no drinking of alcohol in a public place full stop.
- Wally, London
I can't see the long distance train operators who provide services into London agreeing with this - they make a tidy sum from alcohol sales on board. Does the Mayor even have any power over rail services other than the Overground? Is this an example of the Mayor promising something that can't actually be delivered?
- Mark, Vauxhall, London
