24 Hour Drinking

[memly]

Well?
Do you think that it will become worse for our "binge drinking" culture, or put us inline with our European cousins?

[Acid Gaz]

'Binge drinking' (to my mind anyway) means drinking as much as possible in the shortest amount of time. In the UK, this often manifests itself in the last hour before closing time, people trying to get as much booze in as humanly possible before going out to cause some violence or damage.

I don't think it will change Britain's 'drinking culture', but it'll give people the ability to take things a bit easier. I think it's a good thing overall, but it will take a long time for the changes to have a noticeable effect.

The timing is a bit iffy though - the lead-up to Xmas and NYE will be madder than usual this year due to the novelty of longer drinking hours - I hope the Government doesn't bow to the pressure it will no doubt attract from the police and the temperance brigade.

I'll vote it as a good idea.

[Pooka]

See George Best thread if you think its a good idea.

[memly]

Well I think its a good idea as a whole. I dont think it will create anymore pissheads than we already have.

I'm sure the novelty at first may be overwhelming to many people, but why cant we have a drink when we want to?

Our whole attitude toward alcohol is so so warped, I don't know whether it is because we are an island or what.

Only time will tell whether it is a good idea. It wont increase my alcohol capacity but at least I can decide at what time to go home without moving onto an overpriced club.

[Acid Gaz]

See George Best thread if you think its a good idea.

It takes many many years of serious abuse to cause liver disease through alcohol.

Anyone who is susceptible to that level of abuse is likely to suffer regardless of whether pubs are open 24 hours or not.

[Loopz]

See George Best thread if you think its a good idea.

You dont need a pub to be an Alcholic.

I'm not a big drinker but it may spread out the drunk punchers leaving the drinking establishments I'm hoping it may chill a few people out who are obsessed with drinking x amount of pints before last orders.

[Pooka]

So when people are out at a pub that has a late licence, and say they've had enough by 3am, how are they getting home??
I'm not saying all people will drink drive, but you cant ignore the fact that some people are willing to risk it.
The average person is less likely to do it if they can get home using public transport instead of shelling out x amounts of pounds on a cab, or thinking that they arent that pissed and are willing to take the risk.

I know that alcholic doesnt necessarily sit in a pub all the time but the ones I know seem to. Sadly.

Dunno where they get the funds to do it coz I certainly couldnt.

[memly]

Again, I don't think the drink driving will increase proportionately to the amount of drinkers. I may be wrong but people I have known to drink drive would take the risk regardless of what time the establishment they were drinking in closed.

Bournemouth has had 51 late night licenses approved (more than the whole of the southwest region). I will see what the effect is with my own eyes this weekend. Bournemouth is renowned for its stag and hen parties but is also quieter in the winter time.
I expect to see More police and taxis around and later opening times for kebab shops.

I don't know whether violence or criminal damage will increase but I suspect at first it will.
I think there is a huge difference between being a binge drinker and an alcoholic.
I personally don't drink much at all (more of a herbal kind of guy ) but as I said before at least if I want to meet up with friends and stay out longer than 11, I can now.

[Acid Gaz]

So when people are out at a pub that has a late licence, and say they've had enough by 3am, how are they getting home??
I'm not saying all people will drink drive, but you cant ignore the fact that some people are willing to risk it.
The average person is less likely to do it if they can get home using public transport instead of shelling out x amounts of pounds on a cab, or thinking that they arent that pissed and are willing to take the risk.

I know that alcholic doesnt necessarily sit in a pub all the time but the ones I know seem to. Sadly.

Dunno where they get the funds to do it coz I certainly couldnt.

Drink-drivers are idiots and will do it at 11.15 (or even 3pm after a lunchtime session) as well as at any other time.

Ironically (and I'm not condoning drink driving in any way), less damage will be caused by drink-drivers in the middle of the night than, say, between 11pm and 1am because there will less traffic and pedestrians around.

In fact, it's more likely they will get picked up by the Old Bill when there is less other traffic around!

[Pooka]

Bournemouth has had 51 late night licenses approved (more than the whole of the southwest region). .

Jesus, that'll please my mum to no end
Perhaps I'll turn my opinion around merely on that basis!!!
Thats quite a lot tho isnt it?

[Loopz]

So when people are out at a pub that has a late licence, and say they've had enough by 3am, how are they getting home??
I'm not saying all people will drink drive, but you cant ignore the fact that some people are willing to risk it.
The average person is less likely to do it if they can get home using public transport instead of shelling out x amounts of pounds on a cab, or thinking that they arent that pissed and are willing to take the risk.

I know that alcholic doesnt necessarily sit in a pub all the time but the ones I know seem to. Sadly.

Dunno where they get the funds to do it coz I certainly couldnt.

What do you normally do if you go to a late gig or a club to the wee hours ? Are you more tempted to drink drive. What survey said that the "average" person is likely to do it ?

The main with being an alcholic is tackling why they are an alcholic. Choping their arms off is not going to help them. You can also keep pubs closed all day but its not going to help them.

[Pooka]

What do you normally do if you go to a late gig or a club to the wee hours ? Are you more tempted to drink drive. What survey said that the "average" person is likely to do it ?

There was no survey, and I was not intending to say that the average person was more likely to do it. My grammar was obviously wrong if thats how it sounded.

[davemacfrombath]

Nothing's gonna happen.
The world aint going to end.
The sky is not falling in.
Daily Mail readers will be shouting 'Don't panic! Don't panic!' about something else in a few months time - that's what they're like.
It's not that long ago that all day opening was going to cause mayhem and destruction and ruin our way of life...

It seems to me that the ones doing the loudest shouting are those that don't go to town centre pubs and probably don't drink much.

Some people are anti because they have a good friend or relative who drinks too much and have sufferred because of it, so that's not surprising. I don't think this will cause more people to become alcis though.

And if anyone wants to argue I'll see them outside. NOW. Fu basszz.

[Kagey]

I have one comment to make,

WHERE'S MY NEAREST 24HR PUB !!!

[legspin]

I have no problem with 24hr pubs, but as a non-drinker I do have a problem with the price of soft drinks in the pubs over here. The publican actually makes a lot more from my fav tipple (a pint of coke if you're buying thanks ) than he would from any beer or spirits 'coz of the tax take from alcohol
Also if you are going to make alcohol so freely available the consequences must be taken as given and dealt with accordingly.

Imo though, cannabis is a much more pleasant drug and should be as freely available. (24hr coffee houses mmmmmmm )