Putting cans of booze in brown bags

[Nero]

I've seen quite a few examples of this, and want to know why. It isn't illegal to drink booze in the open in the UK. It is in parts of the US, if not across the country. The image of hobo with bottle/can in a brown bag is a pretty iconic US image, but Brit tramps have always had their labels proudly on display. So why is it happening?

Could it be that the people who are serving it have watched too many movies? Could it be that given that a large portion of convenience shops are often staffed by immigrants, they're applying the rules of their own countries? Nero

[mockney piers]

Blimey it really is surreal new thread day today isn't it!!

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Seem to recall something on the radio about how specific areas can be made an alcohol free area now, ostensibly to target problem areas like the square at Waterloo - there was some hoo ha about picnicers being nabbed in a north London park when over-officious police seized their booze.

[mockney piers]

Yeah, a swathe of Camden has been declared likewise.

[Keef]

Liverpool town centre was one of the first "zero tolerence" zones. Still didn't stop the fights though.

Maybe more offys are using paper bags in an effort to help the environment :-S

[citizenED]

In the late eighties Coventry City Centre became a zero tolerence zone too. It didn't stop the fights either. Pissed up meatheads out for a scrap still got totally mullered and went on the rampage on Fri and Sat. I actually feel sorry for the real bums who simply had to find a new location to doss around with their cans of Special Brew.

[downsouth]

What a great idea. Let's all campaign to make LL an alcohol free zone.

[macroban]

> Let's all campaign to make LL an alcohol free zone.

I suggest a phased approach using the East Dulwich Forum poll.

Close down the most popular drinking den first.

You know evidence based policy makes sense.

[downsouth]

Exactly. Imagine how many more articles ED would get too (like that high street on BBC This Morning that banned the use of plastic bags) surely this would be a positive result for house prices?

[snorky]

macroban Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> > Let's all campaign to make LL an alcohol free

> zone.

>

> I suggest a phased approach using the East Dulwich

> Forum poll.

>

> Close down the most popular drinking den first.

>

> You know evidence based policy makes sense.

lets shut down the bishop

[macroban]

> lets shut down the bishop

Only if it wins the East Dulwich Forum Poll.

Due process is important.

[Brendan]

So paper bags are all the rage in hobo-chic at the moment. Just shows that you don?t necessarily need a home to be a fashion victim. Never mind it will not be long until ?traditional English? homelessness comes back into fashion and the paper bag will be shunned in favour of a good honest can of Tennant?s Supper covered in muck.

[LuvPeckham]

downsouth Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> What a great idea. Let's all campaign to make LL

> an alcohol free zone.

I have to smile at this posting, and also put some information on the table concening what may be the cause of Brown Paper bags and drinking.

Southwark, apart from the Dulwich wards who voted agaisnt the idea, was made an alcohol control zone earlier this year, which means that normal consumption of alcohol (i.e. Picnics, Outside a public house or at festivals and events) will be allowed in the borough, however if a person is seen drinking who has, is or may be about to cause an Anti-Social Behaviour offence, then police officers and some council employees have the right to remove their drink and dispose of it (normally down the nearest drain).

I have heard reports from various sources that the street drinking population are now resorting to 'hiding' the alcohol, either in brown paper bags or by pouring it into another container (extra strength Tennants Pepsi-Cola for example)so that they are not seen drinking and therefore have their drink removed from them and disposed of.

The idea of Making Lordship Lane part of the scheme was rejected at Community Council (along with the rest of Dulwich) and as such it will be interesting to see if the street drinking population now make East Dulwich their prefered destination.

Hope that helps to shed some light on the brown paper bags

[downsouth]

So will ED (Dulwich generally) become a magnet for street drinking like parts of Lambeth did for openly selling/buying/smoking marijuana?