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Vertical Drinking

(118 Posts)
MT62 Sat 08-Aug-26 09:51:19

So I see Westminster council are trying to bring in rules, so that people can only sit down whilst drinking. They want people to order drinks on an app.

The whole idea of going drinking in a pub is to socialise & meet new people, especially if you have been working hard all week.
I don’t drink now, but back in the day when I did, that was the best thing about it, standing having a chat & laugh! I’d go to the loo, meet another bunch of people stood talking & join in if I knew someone in that crowd, ‘it’s called socialising’.
I met my future husband whilst stood at the bar. If I had of been hemmed into a corner I would never have met him I am sure of that.
If you want to sit in a group that is also fine, but most people are happy stood in their little groups.
The pub trade is already suffering & dwindling. So why can’t the government just leave well alone.
I didn’t catch why, but heard flats over pubs mentioned.
Easy one just don’t buy a house, flat near a pub. End of.

Wyllow3 Sun 09-Aug-26 10:00:13

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.

25Avalon Sun 09-Aug-26 09:51:17

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.

MaizieD Sat 08-Aug-26 22:45:17

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...

Dickens Sat 08-Aug-26 19:31:42

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.

MT62 Sat 08-Aug-26 18:50:34

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" !!!))

😂😂

MT62 Sat 08-Aug-26 18:49:46

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 Sat 08-Aug-26 17:26:42

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 Sat 08-Aug-26 17:16:41

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.

MT62 Sat 08-Aug-26 17:01:17

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 😂

MT62 Sat 08-Aug-26 16:57:21

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 🙄

LemonJam Sat 08-Aug-26 16:53:24

'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 Sat 08-Aug-26 16:48:25

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

Labradora Sat 08-Aug-26 16:48:08

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?gringringrin

You said it, Magenta 8......
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

MT62 Sat 08-Aug-26 16:33:22

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.

GrannyGravy13 Sat 08-Aug-26 16:13:11

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.

Jaxjacky Sat 08-Aug-26 16:04:13

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.

GrannyGravy13 Sat 08-Aug-26 15:50:12

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

GrannyGravy13 Sat 08-Aug-26 15:48:02

So I see Westminster Council are trying to bring in rules

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

JenniRen Sat 08-Aug-26 15:43:59

"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.

MaizieD Sat 08-Aug-26 15:43:29

GrannyGravy13

^No.10 slams plans to clamp down on drinkers standing in Soho and West End pubs as licensing row explodes^

Source The Standard.

There are multiple other msm outlets with the same story….

And?

How is this relevant to the fact that the original dispute was over blaming the government for this initiative?

And I've already said that No.10's comment is ridiculous and should never have been made.

GrannyGravy13 Sat 08-Aug-26 15:40:23

No.10 slams plans to clamp down on drinkers standing in Soho and West End pubs as licensing row explodes

Source The Standard.

There are multiple other msm outlets with the same story….

Tuliptree Sat 08-Aug-26 15:33:56

It’s not about agreeing or disagreeing or bring right or left. It’s about the fact that there’s a close direct correlation between being right of centre and posting inaccurate, misleading and often plain wrong information. When corrected, the posters then get shirty for some reason

MT62 Sat 08-Aug-26 15:32:06

LemonJam

Sadly there are posters that like to bash the government with no factual basis whatsoever for their bashing -when in fact the government is doing the bang opposite of what the poster is bashing them for

As my Mum would say 'theres nowt so queer as folk'.

So that’s me told then’ queer as folk’!
That’s why I said what I said, because you are making me sound as though I am odd

MT62 Sat 08-Aug-26 15:24:40

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?

Yes sorry, does come across like it that but if we don’t agree with anyone on here who supports the left we are given ‘short shrift’, & made to look stupid.
I am only reporting on what I heard this morning.
If is wrong then I do apologise for not being accurate.

25Avalon Sat 08-Aug-26 14:47:55

MaizieD

How is it monitored, Avalon?

Not sure MaisieD but if the police turn up or someone reports you to the licensing authority there is an enormous risk you will lose your licence which no landlord wants as you are then effectively closed.