Suzanne Savill: Bristol's no-drinking zones are ignored
The 'No Street Drinking Zone' signs in Bristol have taken on an ironic quality. They've gone the way of double yellow lines outside shops on Whiteladies Road, or signs outside pubs in residential areas asking patrons not to make too much noise when leaving.
Their presence acknowledges there's a problem – while the cars parked on double yellow lines, and the yells from people making their way past the signs requesting courtesy towards local residents demonstrate that the problem isn't being addressed.
The same unintended dual purpose is now being served by the 'No Street Drinking Zone' signs around historic St Nicholas Market – where drinkers clutching glasses of alcohol have become a familiar sight.
The owner of the Rummer Hotel, Brett Hirt, has started a petition calling for a zero tolerance approach to be taken towards street drinking.
I wish him luck. But I fear that no matter how many people sign his petition it could end up serving the same purpose as the 'No Street Drinking Zone' signs do at present.
The petition will initially highlight the fact that there is a problem – yet ultimately it will serve to underline the fact that the problem is ignored.
And I'm not only referring to those officers who could be said to turn a blind eye to street drinking, whether it involves cans of cheap cider on Stokes Croft, or glasses of house white in St Nicholas Market.
The fundamental problem is that anyone who dares to question the view that excessive drinking is just a bit of fun is likely to get an indifferent, even hostile, response, from the Government itself.
Professor David Nutt, head of the psychopharmacology unit at Bristol University, found that out when he had to resign from the Government's drug advisory panel, after drawing up a list of dangerous substances in which alcohol was listed fifth, while cannabis was eleventh.
For in order to give that statistic consideration, the Government might also have to reconsider its belief that allowing 24-hour drinking would create a continental-style drinking culture over here.
Unfortunately, most pubs and clubs seem to have focused upon selling more alcohol for longer, rather than on expanding their range of beverages to resemble those in a French or Italian cafe bar.
On a night out with friends I wanted a hot drink as I'd already consumed a couple of alcoholic drinks, and I was feeling cold.
However, I didn't even bother trying to ask. After all, we were in a traditional pub in Bristol, not a cafe bar in Paris.
In this city, there's more chance of encountering drinkers swigging lager or wine than there is of seeing people sitting at pavement tables sipping kir or espressos.
But as long as they are paying taxes to the Government on that alcohol, it's hard to envisage a policy change that would restrict alcohol being sold – or being consumed near 'No Street Drinking Zone' signs.
6 Comments
by Brett, Bristol
Tuesday, November 17 2009, 6:27PM
“I agree with all comments. "24 hour" or extended drinking hours is not the cause of the problem, nor the solution.
We have rules in place to govern the consumption of alcohol, but when these rules are not enforced, they are not adhered to. The "No Street Drinking Zone" is one example. The council had to show there was a problem as a condition of passing the order. So the problem has been recognised ,documented, paperwork signed, then largly ignored. The solution only comes with enforcement, which our "under-performing" police force finds very hard to do.
I feel we can achieve a cafe style culture, by having the consumption of alcohol supervised by a quality licencee, who liases with authorities, and has regard for the law and the wellbeing of his or her patrons. I understand that I have just quoted the law as it stands, but the point is that when cheap vodka from the supermarket is thrown in the mix, coupled with a few cans of cider outside tesco, and a licensee who couldn't care less because there are no consequences to his action, the system does not work. Enforcement on street drinking, and enforcement against licencees is required.
Ms Savill is welcome to enjoy a hot drink at The Rummer any time of night.”
by Mark, Stoke Bishop
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 5:32PM
“Would respected journo's please stop using the Daily Mail-type expression '24-hour drinking'! I know of no bar actually open for 24 hrs and even the most hardcore stag party would struggle to stay out on the lash for that long. It's often still quite hard to find a beer after 11 PM in many places.
Our former (notably staid) licensing laws were introduced during the Great War in a drive to improve productivity in munitions factories. IMO, about the only decent, libertarian thing that this government has done in the last 12 years was to relax them in line with other Western countries (although they probably did it to suit entirely their own agenda). The result, in any case, is called 'freedom': the freedom for certain venues to stay open later, if they deem it profitable so to do, and the freedom for people to drink in them, if they wish.
With freedom goes responsibility, which is arguably what many are lacking. There is a plethora of existing laws that could be used to deal with those who misbehave in public - street-drinking being an example. Enforce the law robustly by all means, but leave the law-abiding majority alone. I've just about had enough of the nanny state telling me what to do.
Things will probably become more café-oriented as the VDT, 'get it down your neck' ethos fades. However, culturally we are a hard-drinking nation, and that is unlikely to change any time soon.”
by FutureBristolian, East of here
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 11:00AM
“"Unfortunately, most pubs and clubs seem to have focused upon selling more alcohol for longer, rather than on expanding their range of beverages to resemble those in a French or Italian cafe bar."
To be fair, you wouldn't go to many French or Italian bars if you were after a wide range of beverages. Kir or espresso yes, but not as much in the way of ales or other spirits as traditional pubs offer in this country.
But I agree with the general thrust of the article - the real blight to "cafe culture" throughout this country is that town and city centres are rendered family-unfriendly after a certain hour due to the prevailing culture of drunkenness, and that's something the government seems keener to contain than address because the underlying cause is a major source of tax revenue.”
by Alex, Redcliffe
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 9:57AM
“Well done - correct!”
by Alex, Redcliffe
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 9:08AM
“Damn it ¿ trying to underline the 'o' _like this_. Never mind, you know what I meant.”
by Alex, Redcliffe
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 9:07AM
“Unfortunately you will never get the 'cafe culture' of Paris in this country, mainly because the UK and most of Bristol is not cultured in any way.
Unfortunately most people still go out to get drunk rather than to enjoy the quality of their drink and socialise.
By the way, who signs off articles before they go live? Nice typo in the headline ¿ "ign_o_red!”