Friends of the Rail Forum

Party On Tube Before Alcohol Ban
Updated:23:01, Friday May 30, 2008

Union leaders have branded plans for a final drinks party on the London Underground before an alcohol ban takes effect as 'irresponsible'.

From Sunday drinking from, and carrying, open containers of alcohol will be banned, with the aim of making travelling on London's public transport network a safer and more pleasant experience for passengers.

Facebook members have organised a party on the last carriage of a Circle line train in the final hours before the ban comes in.

Many websites are advertising the event - called Last Orders On The Underground - with more than 100 people saying they will be attending on party's Facebook page.

The invite says: "On June the 1st 2008 - drinking on London public transport will be made illegal. We will be raising a glass to the end of this British tradition with a good old knees up."

The ban, announced earlier this month by new London Mayor Boris Johnson, applies to the Tube, London buses, Docklands Light Railway and tram services and stations across the capital.
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Bob Crow, general secretary of the The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, said that the ban on alcohol on Tube trains was "half-baked" and could put staff in greater danger of assault.

"We are concerned that London Underground does not intend to put on any extra staff on Saturday night as it will be our members who will be in the front line and at risk from aggressive drunken behaviour.

"RMT will support any measure that will make our members' working lives safer and more pleasant, but the ban has been poorly thought through, is being implemented in haste and could put our members in greater danger.

"Violence against Tube staff is already a major problem, particularly from people who have been drinking."

A spokesman for Transport for London said: "We understand the organisers of this event are asking all those attending to act responsibly and to consider their fellow passengers.

"We would echo that advice and will be monitoring the event to make sure there is no disruption to other passengers or Tube services."

Sky News

Swansong to tube boozing ends in assaults and arrests

* Matthew Weaver and agencies
* guardian.co.uk,
* Sunday June 1 2008

Police arrested 17 people and closed six London Underground stations after a party to mark the last day of legal drinking on the tube ended in chaotic scenes.

Four train drivers and three other London Underground staff were assaulted, one police vehicle was damaged and two officers assaulted and another injured.

Witnesses said the stench of alcohol on the network was overpowering and that people were "being sick all over the place". Drunken partygoers began fighting and vomiting as the midnight ban on drinking drew nearer.

A spokesman for British Transport police said people were arrested for offences such as assault, drunk and disorderly, assault on police, public order-related offences and drug offences.

He added: "This was an unfortunate end to what should have been a fun event."

Various parties were organised by groups on social networking sites, with titles including "One final tube booze party" and "Let's get hammered on the tube day".

The drinking sessions mainly took place on the orbital Circle line.

They began as light-hearted events ahead of an alcohol ban imposed by the new Conservative London mayor, Boris Johnson.

Photographer Desmond Fitzgerald, 48, from Croydon, said the noise at Gloucester Road station at 11pm yesterday was "like a rowdy football crowd".

He said: "When I got on the train it was worse than rush hour, and with every station it went through more and more heavily-drunk people seemed to be getting on.

"Then a fight broke out between about five people, but because we were so tightly packed in, it soon spread throughout the carriage and I had to struggle to escape to the next one.

"The atmosphere had really changed by this point. People were ripping off adverts and maps and being sick all over the place."

At the start of the evening, partygoers of all ages, many in fancy dress, drank and sang in a boisterous, but friendly atmosphere.

Frankie Abbott, 21, a student from east London, said: "It's going to get a bit messy. There are guys drinking from funnels already."

Superintendent Ellie Bird said: "We have seen numerous examples this evening of the negative impact of alcohol and antisocial behaviour. It is dangerous for those individuals and others.

The mayor 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. The ban has the full support of the Metropolitan police and British Transport police."