Great Western Coffee Shop

Am up in Scotland for a short break. Popped into Thurso station and there was a rack full of leaflets explaining Scotrail's new alcohol ban.

From 20th July no alcohol is available for sale on board trains between 9pm and 10am. Similarly no alcohol may be brought on board trains during that time. The Caledonian Sleepers are excluded from the ban.

The leaflet explains it is to make travelling more pleasant and safer for everyone.

Interesting the ban extends until mid morning - was there a problem with hungover commuters?  ;D

Oh dear, remeber going to Fearn with my mate from Waterloo for him to open a Post Office savings account, don't ask!

We caught the 16:00 ex KX Edinburgh Deltic hauled. Tip never go for second siting in the dining car North of Newcastle you have to catch the food as the plate slides in front of you.

Then sleeper from Edingburgh to Inverness, yes they did exist. Then early morning North of Scotland train where we had breakfast. This was in the company of several jovial Scotsmen drinking Mc Ewan's Export at 06:30 in the morning.

Maybe that's why the ban is not lifted to 10:00.

A McEwan's Export at 0630?

Breakfast of champions! :P ;) ;D

I sort of agree with the ban between 9pm-10am, but it is a little unfair that a small minority of troublesome jaikies has led to ScotRail bringing in this ban. Unfair on those who just want to sup a quiet beer on their way home late evening. Or even those night shift workers who's day is reversed and want a snifter in the AM before heading home to bed.

I must admit that I'd be disappointed if such an evening ban came in on FGW. I quite often come home on late trains from the West Country or Paddington and lie to unwind with a drink or two - especially now the miniatures are back!

I'm not so concerned about the morning ban but as bignosemac says it the actions of a minority which could now affect another minority.

In the good old days of course those who became drunk and disorderly could be arrested and charged.
Now the answer is to ban everyone from drinking, progress I suppose.

I wonder how it will be enforced ?
Cans of beer are fairly obvious, but what about spirits that the customer discreetly adds to soft drinks from a flask carried for the purpose. Or even bottles of soft drink to which spirits have been added before boarding.
Smoking on trains has been prohibited for some years, but seems widespread on local trains in the late evening.
And how will they stop people drinking in the toilets ? It is bad enough now with all the smokers queueing up to use the smoking compartment (AKA as the toilet)
If they are really going to engage security staff or police officers to patrol late night trains looking for drink/drinkers, then it would probably be simpler to allow drinking, and use the police officers instead to arrest drunks, rather than to stop all drinking.

Bring back any memories?

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