Fiona Hamilton, London Correspondent
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Travellers on the London Underground defied Boris Johnson by continuing to consume alcohol despite the Mayor of London’s edict.
Thousands of drunken revellers descended on the Circle Line on Saturday to celebrate the last opportunity to consume alcohol legally, resulting in assaults on police and Tube workers. There were 17 arrests.
On the Northern Line yesterday, Tom Francy concealed lager cans from British Transport Police before opening them on the train. He denounced the mayor’s new rules as “disgusting”. Another passenger described the ruling as a disgrace. “I have never seen any problems on the tube, its just wrong,” he said.
Six stations were closed because of overcrowding. Organisers of the protest told The Times that they had not intended it to attract thousands and were disappointed that trains were vandalised and workers assaulted.
The drinking of alcohol is now banned on London Underground, buses, Docklands Light Railway and tram services in the capital. It is also illegal to carry opened cans of alcohol on the capital’s transport network.
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I love the way that everyone supports this ban on drinking on public transport. would the same people be just as in favour of the ban if it was they who had to confiscate the alcohol.
David Mudkips, london, UK
It took time for rights of non smokers to sink in, now we have the squealers who complain that we should be allowed to drink on London's public transport system. It was never allowed before why now? Alcohol is for private not public consumption. Well done Boris, but make sure the law is enforced.
Brit in Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
this is daft. there really was no need to outlaw alcohol consumption on the tube. if you cause a disturbance you should be dealt with. or have your card confiscated.
but this was simply a hi-impact attention grabbing pr policy to put boris on the transport map, where ken had ruled ok previously.
pete marsh, birmingham, uk
I wonder how many of the ones pictured will have red faces at work on monday, and how many of them have commented before on having to travel on a train full of drunken football fans
cc, london, uk
I am from Bangalore India and believe me, I thought Britishers were better mannered that this. I can't understand why people, especially in a world class city like London cannot obey their Mayor who after all wants drinking to be stopped for the sake of public convenience and safety.
Timothy Austin, Bangalore, India
Wow, you guys could drink on the train! I dont know when they banned it in Australia but it was before my time.
Jesse, Canberra, Australia
A spectacularly violent own goal for the underground boozers. Boris must be laughing his head off. Totally vindicated.
Now all the need to do is convert the congestion zone sensors to detect knives.....
john mackie, milton keynes, england
Well what a way to protest against something, act in the very way that caused them to ban this in the first place. Very clever, although what can you expect from the kind of people who can't take a 20 minute journey without a can of warm lager in their hands?
Matt, Farnham Common,
Oh Dear what on earth has happened to our Country. Here we are with Boris trying to do his best and try to reform our society, trying to bring back some form of respect for our fellow Londoners and this is how you repay him. I am a train driver, married with two teenage kids, drinking in public NO
Ray, Amersham,
It's interesting that some of the protesters didn't realise that they were behaving in ways that led to the introduction of the ban in the first place.
Graeme, Bath, United Kingdom