UK: 'Thought police' to target drinkers

[Squatch]

People who even think about going for a drink face being banned from their town centre for up to two days under wideranging new police powers.

Potential trouble-makers can be asked to move on and stay away – even if they have not touched a drop of alcohol.

Well-behaved people who refuse to stop drinking can also be targeted.

The banning orders – called 'directions to leave' – can last for 48 hours and any breach can be punished with a fine of up to £2,500. Fingerprints and DNA samples will be taken.

Link

[bryant69]

1. Yeah - here in the US you can be pulled over for driving erratically

even if you haven't touched a drop of alcohol. What's up with that?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Squatch]

2. And that has what, exaclty, to do with the story posted?

[bryant69]

5. Maybe you should have read the story before you posted it

"Home Office guidance states an order may be issued 'where an individual – or group of individuals – is in a public place and is causing a nuisance by being loud or troublesome'."

Bryant

[JHB]

7. Do they not have existing "disturbing the peace" laws?

And if they do, how have those been inadequate that they need to do this?

[bryant69]

8. Not being from the UK I can't answer this

Are you from the UK?

On the other hand we certainly have laws mandating safe driving in the US - why do we need drunk driving laws?

Bryant

[Squatch]

9. Maybe YOU should have read the article before spouting off.

The article refers to laws in the United Kingdom, which as you may be aware, is NOT the United States.

[bryant69]

10. That's a non-sequiter

Do you favor pulling drunken people over before they cause an accident?

Than why not pull drunken people outside before they start a fight? Particularly if they are "being loud or troublesome."

Bryant

[Clark2008]

3. The essential question here is: Why?

Why would a government - who, btw, relies heavily on the taxes they've place on "sins" such as drink or cigarettes - want to do this?

I understand restrictions for age, on people who already have had too much to drink and on those drinking and driving, but just to target drinkers? Well-behaved drinkers?

That's not only Big Brotheresque, it's just stupid.

[mainegreen]

4. Sounds like an excellent way to prevent protesting and hide the homeless.

GB is really going down hill freedom wise isn't it?

[no_hypocrisy]

6. Well, this new measure will certainly bankrupt the pubs . . . .