Axe the Beer Tax

[Nigel H-J]

People now go to the supermarkets and get totally plastered before they go out

Sorry Chris, do not agree with that comment, but then again I speak of where I live and work, see it and monitor it all first hand, we also have a university here that means on a week-end we can have thousands of young people enjoying a night out, only a very few and I speak of probably less than one per cent that I monitor, are turned away from the pubs and clubs by doorstaff by 10.30 at night.

Later during the evening, like most other towns and cities, there is an escalation of drunkeness but this is not through the cheap purchases of booze from supermarkets but from consuming too much alcohol at the bar.

I cannot comment on other towns and cities but from my experience (14 years in the job), I can safely say that supermarkets do not play a role in drunken nights out here and if I see anyone staggering around drunk coming into the city, then all doorstaff are advised.

Late edit: Regarding the violence after 8pm this usually occurrs after around 10.30 when people start moving from the pubs to the clubs and not always drink related.

Regards
Nigel.

[Quixoticish]

Nigel, my own experiences going out to bars and nightclubs confirm for me what I've already said. I remember speaking to a group of door men recently on a night out and they commented on how in the past few years they have had to start turning away far more people than they ever have in the past, particularly early on the evenings because they are turning up already drunk after filling up on cheap booze at home.

I'm afraid we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one.

[Nigel H-J]

Nigel, my own experiences going out to bars and nightclubs confirm for me what I've already said. I remember speaking to a group of door men recently on a night out and they commented on how in the past few years they have had to start turning away far more people than they ever have in the past, particularly early on the evenings because they are turning up already drunk after filling up on cheap booze at home.

I'm afraid we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one

Chris I do disagree as your post was about a conversation in one city centre with a group of doormen and of your own experiences which again, I assume is in one town.

people are really drinking to excess before they head out for a night out rather than having a quick few before heading into town, wherever that may be.

Again, my response to your post was based on fact as I monitor the city centre 5 nights a week whereas you are making a generilised assumption.

I would never generalise on the behaviour and habits of those outside our city and do get tired of people lumping everyone and everything into the same basket without first researching facts and figures. ;-)

Regards
Nigel.

[airboatr]

understaning your cause there , it's the same here too

I think ... shhhh... I think it's a plan to keep us regulat folk from getting together
and talking about them and what they're doing to screw things up ...almost everything they do..
and further more.. ohh shhh Shhh I think I just saw one of the Bots come in to read up on us,

HAA caught ya reading my post you fat B@$t@rds.. you can't keep us down!!
Power to the people!

... ok he left.....

and further more .. I think they (the elected types)should be paying a global warming tax
on thier mouths every time they spew thier hot gasses in parliment or congress....
yeah thats!!!!!.... oh .... I saw a shadow.. shh.

..I hear rotor blades flopping about..
take cover..
oh and heres to ya :drinkers:

[VEGAS]

The police moaning about Drunk teenagers etc.

Don't agree with you there Rick.

I feel that your remark is a little unjust.

Its not the cops that moan. They're the ones that deal with the problem. Anti social drunken behaviour makes people lives a misery. The UK Police forces are at breaking point for a variety of reasons especially clerical and bureaucratic ones. Many of the regions struggle to provide resources in locations that are known problem areas during peak hours.

I'll tell you what IS worth moaning about. The naivety of the public and their perception of the Police. Many don't understand how difficult and challenging the job is. Especially these days.

As for the judicial system. Well that needs a complete overhaul and has done for years.

So, your not the only one sick of the government.

Right where did I put my dummy?

[Rick Piper]

Hi Vegas

Fair comment mate.

I apologise for saying the police moaning as it wasn't really what i ment word wise.

I was not blaming the Police at all.

Any Bar or club that wants to open late for these muppets should pay for the policing every friday/Sat Night out of their takings.

being caught D&D on the street should be an instant £1000 fixed penalty then they would think a little more.

It's my personal view and i don't expect everyone to agree

Regards
Rick

[Techy111]

I don't think i'll jump on this either...i seen too many drink related injuries to last me a life time in my job.....

Bring back R Whites lemonade.....with the catchy advert.....

Tony

[DaveB]

Being able to comment as one 'on the inside' so to speak.. it's not the fault of pub's putting the price of beer/drinks up either. Before our jolly chancellor announced his last budget, the supplier I HAVE to use.. Coor's.. put the price up across the board. By this time.. everyone knew the country was in a recession, it wasn't official because of the calendar periods used by the Treasury!! Immediately after the budget, Coor's increased the prices again and believe it or not, we have had another increase since. We've had our food suppliers put blanket increases on due to the cost of fuel (even though the cost has come down) and our fuel costs ALWAY'S go UP not DOWN. It is not financially possible to exist.. to pay the bills, to pay the wages without EVENTUALLY passing these costs on or at least a percentage.
We're fortunate in that we have a garden and a relatively enclosed/covered area for smokers to go but the sad fact is, the smoking ban was the start of the poor trading situation for pubs let alone the country sliding into recession. The thousands of non-smokers who claimed they'd go out to the pub.. the only reason they don't is because of smokers is a complete and utter load of crap.. what a surprise!!
The pub trade is not a particularly happy trade to be in at present but we're not alone.. far from it.

Right.. we've just opened for the evening session so I'm off to turn the kitchen on in the hope that I get someone to cook for. Those that DO come out will probably be carrying a '2 for 1' voucher that we've had to produce so half of what I'll cook will be given away. Such is the state of the industry.

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Nigel H-J]

Right.. we've just opened for the evening session so I'm off to turn the kitchen on in the hope that I get someone to cook for. Those that DO come out will probably be carrying a '2 for 1' voucher that we've had to produce so half of what I'll cook will be given away. Such is the state of the industry.

I can sympathised with you Dave having previously worked in the hotel trade, unfortunately you are also restricted on choice and price by the Brewery no doubt.

Unfortunately with this recession there will no doubt be many hoteliers suffering business decline unless more is done to help this country out of the sh*t we are now in. I think that the EU have to look at the way they financially dictate to other countries. Take VAT for example, this was introduced in France (Well, where else could it have come from) in the 1950s' after a senior civil servant (yep, bl**dy faceless so called pen pusher) suggested it as a way of introducing more money for the government!! In turn this has been expanded to all EU countries. I believe it is now time to limit VAT permanently, take for instance buying a car at £10,000 £1750 of that the government take (at 17.5%).

The membership for the EU should be dramatically reduced and also VAT brought down to 5% on everything. We managed without this added tax before and I am sure that we can for the future, this tax is an added frustration for the consumer, take it away and I am sure that we would be much better and happier and richer without it.

Sorry, rant over....promise!! :roll:

Nigel.

[Tomliner]

Don't suppose the subsidised bars in the Houses of parliament will be affected by this will they?Another example of do as I say,not do as I do.Perhaps I am being a little too cynical. :@ EricT