A Drop of the Hard Stuff

In early May London’s new mayor, Boris Johnson unveiled plans to ban the drinking of alcohol on some of London’s transport: the Tube, tram, bus, and Docklands Light Railway. The over ground transport’s alcohol ban will take longer to enforce. The first step would become effective on the first of June. The ban on drinking on transport is part of a wider initiative to curb the sort yobbish behaviour for which Britain is synonymous, increasing the enjoyment of public places for everyone. Its intention is to reduce the anti-social behaviour which cultivates minor crimes in order that action can be taken on more serious criminal activity.

In the run up to the ban, a party, dubbed ‘Last Round on the Underground’ or ‘Last Orders,’ was advertised widely on social networking internet sites. With the ban due to take place at midnight, a party was held - mostly on the Circle Line. It’s great isn’t it? Exactly the sort of idiosyncratic thing we Brits do: like village fetes and street parties.

So what happened next?

What may have started as a bit of fun on the night of the 30th April got out of hand. According to the BBC ‘six London underground stations were closed as trouble flared … four tube drivers, three other staff members, and two police officers were assaulted, and there were 17 arrests. Several trains were damaged and withdrawn from service.’ Eyewitness accounts include reports of ‘fighting, vomiting, ripping up maps and adverts, spilling alcohol and leaving debris.’

I can almost hear the Mayor’s office from here, issuing a collective sigh of ‘Well, Doh.’

Doesn’t it make you proud to be a Brit? What is it with us? We already have a reputation as lager louts throughout European holiday destinations; our football supporters have established themselves firmly on the hooligan yobbo bench and now a proportion of London’s population have become involved.

On the same day as the ‘Last Orders’ party was reported, not coincidentally, was another article on the BBC website, asking: ‘What can be done to tackle underage drinking?’ The problem is that it isn’t just underage drinkers that are the problem. An obsession with alcohol is pervasive throughout our society. Trying to tackle all age drinkers might be a good thing.

We can’t feel smug - it isn’t a phenomena restricted to the UK British. How many times have I heard people here loudly and proudly declaiming their alcoholic consumption; bragging about the quantities of wine they consumed at an event as though it’s some kind of trophy?

Take a look through any of the expat websites and it’s clear that the stresses of expat lifestyle make us more vulnerable to developing problems with alcohol and/or drugs. Denial plays a considerable part in alcoholism and of course it’s still shameful to admit to having such a disease. There isn’t the space here to discuss alcoholism, though of course there are those among us too. I’m talking about those who aren’t alcoholics but who nonetheless abuse alcohol. And don’t try claiming because you don’t drink regularly you don’t have a problem: binge drinking is considered to be worse for people than regular heavy drinking.

Drug and alcohol abuse is of paramount importance to schools throughout Britain and many of the international schools in Bangkok. But it’s simply doesn’t matter what you say to your children – it’s what you do that counts. If they see that every expat event requires a drop of the hard stuff, won’t they think that’s the way to have fun? Can fun not be had without it? If we can’t enjoy a social without alcohol how are we ever going to encourage our children not to abuse it themselves?