Lost Horizons

Lex Libertas

When I read of the stupid rules and laws being imposed in my home country, it makes me glad that I am living ‘abroad’. Britain is not alone in passing laws that beggar belief, but, when it is done by your own politicians, it just makes me shake my head in amazement.

Of course we have some strange laws in England, but most of these are ancient laws that haven’t been repealed, such as males having to carry out longbow practice each week, supervised by the clergy, and not driving cattle across London Bridge on market day. No what I am talking about here is new rules that someone has decided will bring some benefit, but in my opinion are impractical, or useless.

For instance Police in Preston are trying to ban drinking in bars whilst standing up, and saying that people should only be served if they have a seat. So, is this on some health and safety grounds, that if you fall over when sitting down you won’t hurt yourself?

No, this wonderful idea has come from the Lancashire Constabulary’s Alcohol Harm Reduction and Prevention Team, who believe that when the mindless nerd next to you knocks the pint out of your hand, it’s much easier to go for him directly than having to get out of a chair to punch his lights out.

So, apparently, vertical drinking is one of the country’s main causes of public disorder and would like to see it banned in Preston’s pubs. OK, vertical drinking is the new definition of propping up the bar, or standing at the bar. It is a perfectly natural position to be in when drinking beer: eight pints of lager slip into the tanks much more easily when the gullet is erect rather than kinked by the body being squeezed into a chair like a half-shut penknife.

But, despite the fact that standing at the bar is natural, the police seemed to have missed the point that violence in pubs is caused by some sort of friction, and its far more likely that friction will be caused because people are not going to like being told to sit down every five minutes. Apart from that its almost unenforceable.

posted by Luke @ 2:21 PM