Pubs & Bars to close at midnight?

[Scimitar]

Talking to Some Youngsters, they seem to think, that there will be MORE Trouble if everybody
is Turfed out at the Same Time.
k4blades is Probably on the right track, many Youngster drink cheap beer at home
then go down Town From 10pm Onwards.

Of course there will be. They are all going to want a taxi at  the same time,but not be able to get one, and have to wait for ages. Mad scramble when a taxi turns up, poor taxi driver aint got a clue who he is picking up (not his fault), etc, etc. Seen it all before (remember Aquarius)- as soon as a taxi appeared it was survival of the fittest - who dares wins. Those of us old enough to remember what it was like then (i.e. me) when everyone was chucked out at the same time - it was not good.
I don't know what the solution is - I can still see trouble looming, but maybe if the police and council can ensure there is enough taxis, and police, at the relevant time, maybe it will work.
Lets hope so, because some coordinated planning has to go in to this to succeed.

[k4blades]

The problem is that the yobbish behaviour is just a reflection on todays society.
There has always been people getting drunk, when I was a lad we were no different, but we stayed within certain boundaries. We would get drunk and then go home with our tails between our legs feeling sorry for ourselves, but no harm done.
And thats because we were expected to behave properly.
Going out 'till the early hours was a "special occasion", going to a night club was done if it was Christmas or Valentines or something, but we couldn't afford to go every weekend, let alone every night. Then when we did go, we dressed as if it was special too, suit and tie, we would never have got in wearing trainers and jeans.
Those standards no longer apply, going out on an all night drinking session is part of the routine these days, and nothing to get excited about so they make excitement in other ways, by for example getting int punch-ups. Boys and girls.
Also girls back then seemed to go out for the dance where as now its for the drink, or to get pulled.

So to address the yobbish behaviour we need to look at broader attitudes in society, for example getting people to respect the police, again something that isn't like it used to be. Teenagers getting drunk has and will always happen, but we have to learn how to let that happen without the bigger consequences.
I think going back to an earlier closing time would help, and only a limited number of venues, on limited occasions, being allowed to open later. As part of their licensing, they should also pay a bit extra towards the cost of policing that, in the same way as football clubs have to pay for policing.
It needs a joint approach from all involved, such as making sure there is lots of public transport about. For example if pubs kick out al 11.00, make sure the town is flooded with buses / taxis between 11 and 12 to get everyone home, but they would need support financially and from police so they don't suffer from yobs too.

I think that addressing the issue of cheap supermarket boose will help, so people don't get drunk before they go out, and encourage trade from pubs as well, but how you do that, I don't know. Especially as both the supermarkets and the boose industry are very strong politically, (lobbying) and have a lot of influence.

[therealjr]

Be careful what you wish for when it comes to cheap supermarket booze. The new rules in Scotland which are likely to be adopted here set a minimum price for alcohol. They also ban discounting.
So beer boxes at 2-£12 or 3-£20? Gone
Wine 3-£12? gone
Bottle of scotch £10 instead of £15 gone

Assuming you drink in 'moderation' and these rules won't affect your consumption (which is the aim after all) what is the effect going to be on your pocket?

[k4blades]

It wouldn't affect my pocket at all as we drink very little, apart from Xmas maybe. But it is a valid point, which is why a solution is difficult. However, if it could be administered to shops and not pubs, then I'm sure the supermarkets would survive. Maybe a way to do this is through VAT.
Different VAT rates apply to certain foods eaten in compared to taken out, from restaurants. For example, if you buy a milkshake from McDs to eat in the store you get charged VAT as its part of a "eaten out meal" if you see what I mean. Buy the same milkshake to take out, and its classed as a purchase of a dairy product that is zero rated for VAT.
Apply the same principle it booze (in reverse) so that it costs more to buy booze to take home than it does to drink in the pub. As Panoroma said the other night, when people drink in pubs, there are more controls, such as age checks, not serving drunk people and people thinking about getting home so less problems, and also better for the pub trade.
There are no easy answers though.
 

As an afterthought, I remember all the talk the other week about the girl who got stabbed in the park in Doncaster, and there were lots of reports about the park being used by drunks standing around all day with their cans, and I think the suspect in the murder was one of those, so reducing booze bought from shops may help tackle these sorts of problems too, reducing the number of "street drinkers".

Unfortunately, what ever measures are taken, the innocent will end up paying in the end.   

[Pete]

It appears that folks are calling for the return of nightclubs as an alternative, so folks can go drinking in pubs and then go home, or if they want to, go on to a nightclub to drink later on into the night.

Good idea? Bad idea?

I used to know a guy who was really on top of this stuff, but can't get his opinion 'cos he only posts on right wing boards these days... LOL

[k4blades]

Good idea.
(I mean the nightclub thing, not the bit about posting on right wing boards).

[Pete]

Just kiddin'