West End Extra - Letters: Booze bus

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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 7 September 2007

Can’t we stop the booze bus?

• CAN anything be done regarding the consumption of alcohol on buses?
I have witnessed this on many many occasions and despite pointing this problem out to the drivers, they show reluctance to become involved – perhaps understandably fearful for their own safety should any repercussions arise from their intervention.
It is not solely a problem on London transport – suburban and provincial services suffer similar problems. Recently, I witnessed several individuals, obviously a little ‘worse for wear’, board a bus and commence drinking alcohol.
Pointing this out to the driver, his response was “What do you want me to do?”
Drivers have enough to worry about – collecting fares and checking tickets, quite apart from driving buses in hectic London traffic – but this is a serious matter concerning safety of the passengers.
Sooner, rather than later, someone will become involved in a fracas and serious injury will result due to intimidation of other passengers by these drunken passengers.
We appear to have solved the no smoking rule, with most passengers on the whole abiding by the legislation. So why can’t we do the same for drinking?
The disappearance over the years of conductors on buses, who could have helped in preventing these problems, has surely been a factor in the increase in this problem.
I WALKER
Dalgarno Gardens, W10

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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