Vertical Drinking

Hospitality has found things increasingly difficult since Covid, without hare brained schemes like this by councils.

So when our local (a wet pub, no food), has a live band, every weekend, we all sit nicely and clap along? I think not, it would close it.

Jaxjacky

So when our local (a wet pub, no food), has a live band, every weekend, we all sit nicely and clap along? I think not, it would close it.

A scheme like this would be disastrous for wet led pubs, many would close down.

JenniRen

"I lived ten yards from a pub, we never had a problem with outside drinking until the indoor smoking ban came into force & drove everyone outside."

Good point. I am wholly in favour of the indoor smoking ban but, of course, smokers will go outside for a ciggie and take their drinks with them for obvious reasons.

The police have more than enough to do without having to monitor this, or do Councils propose employing extra people, eg Vertical Drinking Wardens, rather like the litter wardens to go around issuing fines?

Yes, I understand the problems that can occur with what I'd call street drinking rather than vertical drinking (who dreamed that up?) but it doesn't always result in anti-social behaviour.

Thank you 🙏
Yes not much bother as you had bar staff/ landlord keeping his eye out for trouble. Now of course, when the weather is lovely everyone piles outside to smoke, including friends of smokers, so now you are basically left with an empty pub.
There is no staff keeping tabs out for trouble so you often have more fights breaking out, with police be called out up to several times a night.
What you are left with in the morning is a blanket of broken glass, cigarette butts & vomit -not a good look if you have dwellings very close by, especially in a conservation area.
So to a point I do agree with ‘vertical drinking’ outside (daft term) that it needs overhauling.
I don’t think sitting outside will alter the situation tbh though, not with our drinking culture.

Magenta8

I personally would not like to see the end of vertical drinking. How else can you gauge when you have had enough if you are sitting down already?

You said it, Magenta 8......
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Our staff/landlord are regularly outside to clear glasses, empty ashtrays etc MT62, it’s well managed.

'Nowt so queer as folk' is a northern saying (or at least I was burnin in the north and heard it a lot when I was growing up). It was used often, usually said with a shrug and smile. Ie human beings can be relied upon behave in lots of different ways that don't always make immediate sense to others 😊

Jaxjacky

Our staff/landlord are regularly outside to clear glasses, empty ashtrays etc MT62, it’s well managed.

Yes I dare say it’s changed since I last went out drinking.
Probably more well managed! So shall we leave the vertical drinkers to continue enjoying having a vertical drink outside 🙄

I noticed last time I passed our old pub they had enclosed it outside with planters & foliage. I’ve heard it’s been nic-named the zoo 😂

It's our drinking culture to stand up a lot with a beverage in hand it, isn't it?

I'd rather everyone sat down, like in France in both Paris and in the provinces, people usually sit at tables inside or outside to drink. Sometimes on stools at the bar. There's no removing the glasses or cups either the minute the customer finishes. It makes for a more pleasant drinking experience, you're there to chat and relax, or even to just people watch. It's a social ritual.

I thought for a moment that people were only going to be allowed to sit down if they were drinking. That sounded quite good to me 😃

(I say this as someone who has had a tough day and admits to having had a large glass of wine before reading the post ((and who has also just had to correct her own typo of "pist" to "post" !!!))

MartavTaurus

It's our drinking culture to stand up a lot with a beverage in hand it, isn't it?

I'd rather everyone sat down, like in France in both Paris and in the provinces, people usually sit at tables inside or outside to drink. Sometimes on stools at the bar. There's no removing the glasses or cups either the minute the customer finishes. It makes for a more pleasant drinking experience, you're there to chat and relax, or even to just people watch. It's a social ritual.

Now I am older a comfy seat please, without the bump, bump music 😂

Oldnproud

I thought for a moment that people were only going to be allowed to sit down if they were drinking. That sounded quite good to me 😃

(I say this as someone who has had a tough day and admits to having had a large glass of wine before reading the post ((and who has also just had to correct her own typo of "pist" to "post" !!!))

😂😂

I think Sadiq Khan made a good point... "You can't run a world-famous nightlife district with a village-hall mindset"

... and he's teetotal.

'Vertical Drinking' is the daftest descriptive I've heard for a long time - it's about rowdyism outside pubs, and there's already legislation to deal with this.

... but probably not sufficient numbers of officers.

GrannyGravy13

^So I see Westminster Council are trying to bring in rules^

First line of the OP, referring to council not government, MaizieD

But later in the OP she says, referring to the proposal, of which she clearly does not approve, So why can’t the government just leave well alone.

At 11.30 am I was pointing out that the proposal did not come from the government.

There is nothing wrong with criticising anything a government does but it shouldn't be criticised for something it hasn't done. Especially as other people might pick up that criticism and run with it, building up completely unjustified resentment...

It does not apply to drinking establishments who already have a licence only to new ones so current pubs will not be affected. People will still stand at the bar and take their drinks outside as usual.

Tuliptree

What a nasty little post MT62. Lemonjam provides thoughtful, considered, well informed and accurate posts. What on earth about that provoked such a reaction?

She is one of the most straightforward posters here and doesn't pick fights.

Look, M62, we all make mistakes sometimes big ones, but for an O/P there really is a need to give accurate information is all. its an interesting topic for discussion, but blaming the government without checking - it only takes a couple of minutes.

It's clickbait. Don't waste time on this non- story.

I am sorry Lemonjam, it was harsh of me!

GrannyGravy13

^So I see Westminster Council are trying to bring in rules^

First line of the OP, referring to council not government, MaizieD

Councils are Government.
Local Government rather than Central Government.

JenniRen

GrannyGravy13

So I see Westminster Council are trying to bring in rules

First line of the OP, referring to council not government, MaizieD

Councils are Government.
Local Government rather than Central Government.

I am not stupid.

I know that councils are 'local government' but they are not The Government which the OP is complaining about.

Do stop trying to wriggle around this. It is absolutely bl**dingly obvious that this sentence So why can’t the government just leave well alone. does not refer to Westminster Council.

I'm not "wriggling" at all.

I merely stated a fact.

JenniRen

I'm not "wriggling" at all.

I merely stated a fact.

You are wriggling -normal parlance is the government ( for central government) and the council ( for local authorities). If I had a problem with my la I wouldn’t say ‘I’ve got a problem with government’

I've no need to wriggle as I didn't make the original statement

JenniRen

I've no need to wriggle as I didn't make the original statement

You are defending it