Two good reasons to change the licensing laws
Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 8:00 I've had time to think these past few days.
First there was the eight-hour round trip to Blackpool. Then there were two more car journeys, 90 minutes each way, to and from Heathrow, and the flight to Vienna (although I spent most of that reading Brian Moore's autobiography Beware Of The Dog).
When I wasn't reading I was thinking about the Clubs & Institute Union and the difficult if not impossible task of reviving the fortunes of working mens' clubs.
I've also been thinking about the issue of teenagers and alcohol.
Personally, I don't have a problem with teenagers drinking alcohol in moderation. Like me, I'm sure many of you were given the odd glass of wine or beer at home or perhaps you slipped into a pub with your friends and bought one or two pints of beer, a vodka orange, or even a Bacardi and coke. At the age of 14 I was a Tartan Special man, sometimes Newcastle Brown. (Don't worry, my taste buds improved, eventually.)
We didn't go into pubs very often but we knew the ones where we could get served and I don't remember anyone getting drunk for three simple reasons: the landlord wouldn't have allowed it, we didn't want to draw attention to ourselves, and we didn't have the money.
We were in the pub – that was good enough for us. In fact, the only time we did get drunk was at parties in other people's homes when their parents were away and we were unsupervised.
Sixteen and 17-year-olds are going to drink anyway and it's better for them to drink in a controlled environment than in the street or a nearby park.
So how's this for an idea – change the licensing laws so that private members' clubs can apply for a licence to serve alcohol to anyone aged 16+. Suddenly, they would seem a whole lot more relevant and enticing to younger people.
Pubs will object (level playing field and all that) and health campaigners will have a heart attack, but I think it's a way to revive our community clubs and give children aged 16-18 an acceptable place to drink, other than the home. Who knows, they may even develop a lifelong commitment to the place.
It will never happen, I know that, but as a parent I would take comfort from the fact that my children were learning to drink in safe, sociable surroundings.
Reader Comments (4)
Simon,
You make a very valid point. The much celebrated 'Irish Pub' was a men only venue for years. In the sixties, they introduced the snug, a small room adjoining the bar for the 'ladies' to sit and wait for their men, while being in out of the elements. The bold lassies were soon sipping their vodkas and the Publicans, seeing an opportunity, split their public houses into Bars & Lounges. It was understood that the bar was men only, and the ladies could use the lounge when accompanied by a man (really !). There was a widespread belief at first that women in a pub would cause trouble.
Anyway, the usual procedure was that five or six husbands would bring their wives to the lounge and all meet up. Then the 'lads' would excuse themselves, repair to the lounge to discuss the great questions of the day, while the ladies exchanged recipes in the lounge. Within a short time, the ladies were meeting without the lads, and the Sunday pulpits raged against the practice.
But it became commonplace so that, not only would a Dad introduce his son to the delights of their local, the Moms also brought their daughters. The big revolution was when pubs began to do a Sunday roast and all the family could go together. Added to the Catholic principle of "a family that prays together, stays together", came the unspoken, "a family that drinks together, chats together". Local suburban pubs became the meeting place for families of all shades.
As per your observations, these pubs were self-regulating, relaxed and friendly. For a young person, if you had been in with your Mom or Dad already, you were then welcome on your own or with two or three of your friends. Grandparents were regularly wheeled out also and there was a healthy crosspollinisation between all age groups. All could eat, drink & smoke together.
Sadly, this is all but gone now except in rural areas. With it goes the stronger sense of local community which is the roots of the "friendly Irish".
Or Simon, why not have it that 16+ year olds could drink in a pub if a parent is present and it could kick start the old community spirit which is sadly lacking in these awful 'modern' times.
It would also bring back much needed customers to the pubs.
There used to be what was called 'early houses', these were certain pubs that used to open at 5am in Dublin, usually beside markets and it was a great place for alcoholics.
At least they had somewhere to go.
Tom Miers is complaining that his six year old was not welcome in a pub. The Free Society is an odd place to put forward that point of view. Just as with smoking, it should be up to the landlord. I'm sure there's a market both for child friendly pubs and adult only pubs. I would not spend time in a pub where children were present, but that's my personal preference. I don't want them banned.
This is what i was thinking the other day .When i was 16/17 used to sneek in pub and we were as good as gold,so not to stand out.Had our 4 or 6 units and went home.So bye the time i was 18 i was use to what was expeced in way of how to act in a public house,all the locals taught us that.