Tee-total transport

The UK government is considering a ban on drinking on public transport. It looks like a solution in search of a problem.

The idea was put forward in a meeting at Blair's country residence, Chequers, in September. In future, drinking alcohol on buses and trains - but not planes - would be illegal. Defence minister John Reid told BBC News, 'It is right that people should be able to have a civilised drink at whatever time they want, but it is right also that people should be responsible about not being abusive on buses and other places'. Fair enough - anyone who has had the pleasure of taking the night bus home, especially when sober, may not have been terribly impressed by the drunken rowdiness of others. But since most local bus and train journeys are fairly short, any serious disorder must be the product of alcohol consumed before, not during, the journey.

In fact, if you really wanted to ensure trouble on public transport, turning away inebriated people because they have bottles or cans seems the perfect recipe. It would unnecessarily deprive long-distance travellers of the opportunity to enjoy a relaxing drink - for little apparent gain.

What lies behind this new idea is the assumption that the government should criminalise anti-social behaviour. They want to make it an offence not only to assault or rob someone, but to irritate them too. Since when was it the government's job to enforce good manners? Interviews with Reid and deputy prime minister John Prescott suggest the idea has not been enthusiastically embraced by ministers. This illustrates very well the nature of government policymaking today. Unable to offer any fundamental improvement to society, ideas are created, floated and dropped with alarming speed as the government desperately attempts to look like it is doing something useful. If the government really wanted to reduce levels of annoyance, perhaps it should stop this constant churning of half-baked ideas.

Public transport drink ban plan, BBC News, 30 October 2005