Forum Topic

Street drinking

Yesterday, waiting at a bus stop in Perivale, I saw two rather scruffy men in their twenties openly drinking. After screwing up my courage I was so bold say to ask if they were drinking beer. 'Yes'.Are you aware that street drinking is illegal and if the police see youth will confiscate your beer?' ''No. We must finish quickly.' I said that few English people would dare speak to them about this. "Is that because we are speaking a foreign language?'. I said it was in part and asked if they were Polish.'No we are Hungarian, here several years for work."We parted on good terms I believe..  I did tell them that some years back on a hot summer's day, a PCSO had stopped me  as I walked home drinking a can of lager. This I presume was equality policing as I do not look like a lager lout nor behave like a drunk.

Graham Weeks ● 3219d10 Comments

Beggars are like birds. The more you feed them the more you get. If people really care,  give the beggar some time. Ask why begging.  Ask what help they rally need. How many are genuine, how many con merchants? Perhaps buy them a coffee or burger. Do not give money.

Graham Weeks ● 3214d

Is begging also legal ? Go to Ealing Broadway any day and you will find at least ten beggars ! Of course if you are an English beggar you will be arrested ! I have spoken to the police who tell me without an interpreter it is easier to let foreign beggars get away with it ! No wonder people voted Brexit !

Dennis Brogan ● 3215d

Ho Ho. But from where does the Scotch Common name originate?

Graham Weeks ● 3218d

I believe al fresco drinking dates back a long time in Ealing's history though the most common choice of beverage has changed, hence the proposed renaming of Scotch common to Tyski common.

Alan Anderson ● 3218d

Thank you. It's perfectly legal to drink alcohol outside!

Paul James ● 3218d

Paul is correct, drinking outside in public places is not against the law, however Ealing is a borough-wide controlled drinking zone (CDZ). Now, had the two chaps boarded a bus while drinking, that would have been a different matter is it would contravene TFL's rules which prohibit open alcoholic drink containers on their network.

Andy Hamm ● 3219d

This appears to be a change from notices prohibiting street drinking. It seems  aretrograde step encouraging people to report to the police and not to tell the miscreants that they are law breakers. Has this change been effective in any way or is it window dressing?

Graham Weeks ● 3219d

Street drinking in Ealing is not illegal.  If outdoor drinking is causing a nuisance or annoyance, police officers and police community support officers can ask people to stop drinking or to surrender their drink. Any refusal to do so can result in a fine of up to £500.https://www.ealing.gov.uk/news/article/1251/dedicated_summertime_street_drinking_patrol

Paul Scullion ● 3219d

Perhaps PCSO had no sense of smell....or just no sense.

Graham Weeks ● 3219d

Some years ago I was waiting for a friend outside Ealing Broadway station drinking a 330ml can of Heineken and generally minding my own business. Opposite me 4 or 5 youths were pretty brazenly smoking cannabis. One of these little community support types looks at the kids, then looks at me before coming over and telling me to get rid of my beer.

Jim McCauley ● 3219d