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Nice one, guys. In one evening, you’ve managed to make Boris Johnson look credible. Okay, not entirely credible, perhaps. But he’s less uncredible now than he was. And the link between alcohol consumption and asshole behaviour becomes just a little bit stronger.
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3 replies on “Dailies for Sunday 1 June 2008”
Hmm. I’m rather conflicted on this one. Being anti-violence, pro-public transport and generally supportive of the notion of consideration for one’s fellow (wo)man, I can’t condone such asshole behaviour.
And yet, I find myself rather supportive of the anti-control, anti-authoritarian nature of this party/demonstration. Is drinking on public transport really a big enough deal to warant an outright ban? I don’t think so.
I use the trains, buses and tubes fairly frequently, often late at night, and I can’t remember the last time I even saw anyone drinking on them, let alone being objectionable in the process.
Quite the opposite – I’ve started using London’s night buses more frequently this year and I’ve been struck by how pleasant they are these days compared to how I remember them ten or twenty years ago.
It strikes me that a bit of mischief-making is quite a laudable response to the authoritarian, control-oriented, new puritanism that lies behind such cheap and opportunistic moves as this recent ban.
I think that the way it was rushed in – with little consultation and absolutely no soft PR campaign to convince people of its benefits – was actually incompetence of the highest order that erodes Johnson’s credibility further.
The comparison that occurs to me is Margaret Thatcher’s hardline introduction of the poll tax and the public disorder that inevitably followed. A more skilful politician would not have made such an error of judgement.
The assaults are despicable and I don’t suggest that the circumstances absolve any of the individuals concerned from personal responsibility, but the disastrous implementation of this ban deserves much scrutiny.
I feel the same way as you, Hg. Sadly, our position is greatly undermined by the actions of a few people on Saturday evening. If we attempt a mature and reasonable debate with the pro-ban faction on the need for an alcohol ban on public transport, all they have to do to shoot down our arguments is to say “but Saturday night proves that there is a connection between alcohol consumption on public transport and violence, doesn’t it?” and we have to accept that yes, they are right. And those are exactly the people that we need to be sweet-talking if we want to get this ban rescinded.
In the light of Saturday night’s events, they’re now going to be thinking about extending this ban. It’s only a matter of time until alcohol consumption is illegal in any public space in London. Remember that it’s for your own good, citizen.
I suppose my response would be that it only proves that there’s a connection between alcohol consumption on public transport, violence and hastily implemented legislation.
In my opinion, it would be better to spend time working out why people feel the need to drink to excess and get violent in the first place. Prohibition always ultimately fails.