Drinking on coaches

[Methuselah]

Can we somehow rain it in a bit.I was on a coach going to the Stockport game and we had some people came on our coach who came onto our coach who started drinking before the coach left Barrow and carried on drinking all the way to Stockport.The result was two of them got arrested and ended up getting left behind.
People have to remember sometimes we have young children on these coaches and families and it doesn,t set a very good example.
By all means have a good time but just have a couple of drinks on the way to the match because we alll get dropped at a pub near the ground anyway.
What I couldn,t understand is why the stewards from the Bluebird Trust don,t tell people to behave themselves instead of providing them with bin bags for their empties.
I,m all for people enjoying themselves but if you have drunk too much how can you follow what is going on.The only result is what you had on last Saturday when you had Stockport and Barrow fans baiting each other.Surely we as a club and supporters are better than that.

[2 doors up]

Can we somehow rain it in a bit.I was on a coach going to the Stockport game and we had some people came on our coach who came onto our coach who started drinking before the coach left Barrow and carried on drinking all the way to Stockport.The result was two of them got arrested and ended up getting left behind.
People have to remember sometimes we have young children on these coaches and families and it doesn,t set a very good example.
By all means have a good time but just have a couple of drinks on the way to the match because we alll get dropped at a pub near the ground anyway.
What I couldn,t understand is why the stewards from the Bluebird Trust don,t tell people to behave themselves instead of providing them with bin bags for their empties.
I,m all for people enjoying themselves but if you have drunk too much how can you follow what is going on.The only result is what you had on last Saturday when you had Stockport and Barrow fans baiting each other.Surely we as a club and supporters are better than that.

Is it not a criminal offence to drink alcohol or infact have it on a coach going to a football match?

[Bingo]

Why don't you bring up any concerns with the trust instead of trying to stir up trouble on a public forum.

[ruins]

Can we somehow rain it in a bit.I was on a coach going to the Stockport game and we had some people came on our coach who came onto our coach who started drinking before the coach left Barrow and carried on drinking all the way to Stockport.The result was two of them got arrested and ended up getting left behind.
People have to remember sometimes we have young children on these coaches and families and it doesn,t set a very good example.
By all means have a good time but just have a couple of drinks on the way to the match because we alll get dropped at a pub near the ground anyway.
What I couldn,t understand is why the stewards from the Bluebird Trust don,t tell people to behave themselves instead of providing them with bin bags for their empties.
I,m all for people enjoying themselves but if you have drunk too much how can you follow what is going on.The only result is what you had on last Saturday when you had Stockport and Barrow fans baiting each other.Surely we as a club and supporters are better than that.

As someone who used to do this (I no longer drink) I understand your comments and I've been in situations where I've embarrassed myself like falling asleep on a cow in Cambridge where I was arrested and missed the bus back, that was my fault so let them do what they do, they are the ones missing out. However I also understand that people have a drink because it's a day out from start to finish so maybe as Bingo says it's best to use another platform to address the issue BUT it won't go away, that's football agree with it or not. Please don't take this as a criticism.

[barrowaberdeen]

If you have concerns please let us know by e mailing info@bluebirdstrust.co.uk

The Trust has a code of conduct for travel. This includes a request that patrons don't drink alcohol as it is not permitted. Putting out binbags is to keep the bus tidy

We work with the Police Liasion Officer and all movements of coaches etc are communicated.

It's inappropriate to comment on specifics of Saturday but we will be reviewing this and if necessary, action will be taken. We take any concern seriously.

[bluessupporter]

Is it not a criminal offence to drink alcohol or infact have it on a coach going to a football match?

The Sporting Event (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985

The act creates a number of offences in connection with alcohol being transported to and from football matches. Anyone who has alcohol in their possession whilst travelling on a coach or train that is principally being used to take people to or from a match is guilty of an offence. There are provisions relating to the operators and also those who hire vehicles. It is also an offence to be drunk on such a vehicle whether or not the person is in possession of alcohol.

These provisions also apply to minibuses in certain circumstances.

[Desmond2-2]

Mods, please remove this topic

[bluessupporter]

Mods, please remove this topic

Why?

[Suffolk Blue]

Is it not a criminal offence to drink alcohol or infact have it on a coach going to a football match?

The Sporting Event (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985

The act creates a number of offences in connection with alcohol being transported to and from football matches. Anyone who has alcohol in their possession whilst travelling on a coach or train that is principally being used to take people to or from a match is guilty of an offence. There are provisions relating to the operators and also those who hire vehicles. It is also an offence to be drunk on such a vehicle whether or not the person is in possession of alcohol.

These provisions also apply to minibuses in certain circumstances.

Careful chaps. Straying into difficult territory especially when considering the application of this Law to the operators of said vehicles or their agents.

I think this law was brought in originally to curb behaviour on public transport but it equally applies to Private hire. This is the primary reason why many train operators now refuse to sell alcohol on match days. However most of us will have used the West Coast main line and encountered those who for some reason wish to consume copious amounts of tinnies before breakfast en route to a game. Interestingly the law makes train operators criminally liable for allowing the alcohol to be brought on the train were it to result in something kicking off before their destination was reached. Tricky one.

[beachy01]

Can we somehow rain it in a bit.I was on a coach going to the Stockport game and we had some people came on our coach who came onto our coach who started drinking before the coach left Barrow and carried on drinking all the way to Stockport.The result was two of them got arrested and ended up getting left behind.
People have to remember sometimes we have young children on these coaches and families and it doesn,t set a very good example.
By all means have a good time but just have a couple of drinks on the way to the match because we alll get dropped at a pub near the ground anyway.
What I couldn,t understand is why the stewards from the Bluebird Trust don,t tell people to behave themselves instead of providing them with bin bags for their empties.
I,m all for people enjoying themselves but if you have drunk too much how can you follow what is going on.The only result is what you had on last Saturday when you had Stockport and Barrow fans baiting each other.Surely we as a club and supporters are better than that.

not only do we have a fan base full of people wanting to condemn other supporters (usually home ones) at every possible opportunity. we now have people desperate to eradicate ever lasty bit of fun and joy out of match day

1 word, GRASS

[Holkerbird]

Can we somehow rain it in a bit.I was on a coach going to the Stockport game and we had some people came on our coach who came onto our coach who started drinking before the coach left Barrow and carried on drinking all the way to Stockport.The result was two of them got arrested and ended up getting left behind.
People have to remember sometimes we have young children on these coaches and families and it doesn,t set a very good example.
By all means have a good time but just have a couple of drinks on the way to the match because we alll get dropped at a pub near the ground anyway.
What I couldn,t understand is why the stewards from the Bluebird Trust don,t tell people to behave themselves instead of providing them with bin bags for their empties.
I,m all for people enjoying themselves but if you have drunk too much how can you follow what is going on.The only result is what you had on last Saturday when you had Stockport and Barrow fans baiting each other.Surely we as a club and supporters are better than that.

not only do we have a fan base full of people wanting to condemn other supporters (usually home ones) at every possible opportunity. we now have people desperate to eradicate ever lasty bit of fun and joy out of match day

1 word, GRASS

Grass. Don't be so ridiculous.
It is illegal and the consequences for the driver and coach company are serious.
In around 2012 the fine was £2000 for the driver and the coach could be impounded and passengers left stranded.
That would be on the drivers record.
The fine will probably be more now I expect.
Would you like that on your conscience while you enjoy your match day experience.

[Ste Story]

Meh, legality isn't really the big issue.

Its illegal to drive at 73mph on a motorway yet I highly doubt anyone who made their own way to Stockport stuck to 69mph. The police aren't really likely to pull you for it though. Likewise realistically I don't think there's any doubt amongst Cumbria Police that people have a can or two or a dram of whisky from a flask l on football buses.

For decades a wide mix of people from teenagers to pensioners have enjoyed a drink on the way to football without issue. If certain people are going to choose to drink in excess, they'll do it whether that drinking is in a slower and contained environment on a coach or necking strong shots on arrival.

Individual cases of people being intoxicated aren't really worthy of a full crusade and 10 page thread against the hundreds who travelled by coach, anymore that it would make sense to talk about everyone who's ever drank in Wetherspoons because a couple of people have got bladdered in one or another and caused mischief over the years... The very fact you can travel to rugby or cricket or tiddlywinks on a coach and have a drink but not football is a joke in itself imo.

Christ, I remember Salisbury away when the chairman gifted us a couple of crates of beer for the coach home to credit our support one afternoon... Don't think anyone felt compelled to commit further crimes on the basis of a couple of tins and a sing song either.

[bafctimmy]

Can we somehow rain it in a bit.I was on a coach going to the Stockport game and we had some people came on our coach who came onto our coach who started drinking before the coach left Barrow and carried on drinking all the way to Stockport.The result was two of them got arrested and ended up getting left behind.
People have to remember sometimes we have young children on these coaches and families and it doesn,t set a very good example.
By all means have a good time but just have a couple of drinks on the way to the match because we alll get dropped at a pub near the ground anyway.
What I couldn,t understand is why the stewards from the Bluebird Trust don,t tell people to behave themselves instead of providing them with bin bags for their empties.
I,m all for people enjoying themselves but if you have drunk too much how can you follow what is going on.The only result is what you had on last Saturday when you had Stockport and Barrow fans baiting each other.Surely we as a club and supporters are better than that.

Was this post created after six litres of champagne.

It's football lad/ladette behaviour, it goes on regardless of supping a few on the way to the game on the coach / by train or by sinking a load more in the boozer pre match. I have a drink at away matches but personally I don't get intoxicated at the football (although some of the games over the decades bet most of us wish we had ) but won't condemn those that may choose to.

Please don't point the finger at the "stewarding" of the Trust buses... There has been nothing wrong with it and the Trust always play a commendable role to run buses and I'm sure if any silliness occurs on the bus then it is nipped in the bud with immediate effect. Volunteers shouldn't have to tell folk to behave themselves. Did the people you refer to misbehave themselves when travelling on the way down to Stockport?

Argy bargy doesn't happen because of folk drinking on a coach to games. It happens due to the provocation, bravado and territorial attitude that comes with some aspects of football culture. How many of those Stockport fans surrounding the Barrow supporters coaches had a drink on a coach that day?

[bluessupporter]

Individual cases of people being intoxicated aren't really worthy of a full crusade and 10 page thread against the hundreds who travelled by coach, anymore that it would make sense to talk about everyone who's ever drank in Wetherspoons because a couple of people have got bladdered in one or another and caused mischief over the years...

It is not illegal to get drunk in Wetherspoons.

I don't think anyone objects to the odd can or two on a coach, but if the story of someone getting bladdered on a coach is true, then that could have serious consequences.

[Holkerbird]

Meh, legality isn't really the big issue.

Its illegal to drive at 73mph on a motorway yet I highly doubt anyone who made their own way to Stockport stuck to 69mph. The police aren't really likely to pull you for it though. Likewise realistically I don't think there's any doubt amongst Cumbria Police that people have a can or two or a dram of whisky from a flask l on football buses.

For decades a wide mix of people from teenagers to pensioners have enjoyed a drink on the way to football without issue. If certain people are going to choose to drink in excess, they'll do it whether that drinking is in a slower and contained environment on a coach or necking strong shots on arrival.

Individual cases of people being intoxicated aren't really worthy of a full crusade and 10 page thread against the hundreds who travelled by coach, anymore that it would make sense to talk about everyone who's ever drank in Wetherspoons because a couple of people have got bladdered in one or another and caused mischief over the years... The very fact you can travel to rugby or cricket or tiddlywinks on a coach and have a drink but not football is a joke in itself imo.

Christ, I remember Salisbury away when the chairman gifted us a couple of crates of beer for the coach home to credit our support one afternoon... Don't think anyone felt compelled to commit further crimes on the basis of a couple of tins and a sing song either.

So you weren't on the coach when the police watched our fans buying bags of alcohol at the off licence and then came on the coach, read the law etc and then spelt out the consequences. Made them.remove it poured it away took the drivers details and told him it was on record and he could lose his licence if it happened again.?
We could have been stranded that day if the police had taken a stronger stance so it isn't easily passed off as you state.
When we were actually in a match at Oxford the police were on our coach searching it. Don't know how legal that was.
All that in non league days so I expect things are stricter in the football league.
In the early days of the ISC those trips were the best of days. Sadly it became not so for me and you know why Ste.
Anyway all enjoy your away days, cos they are the times you look back on when you are as old as me---very old. Keep safe.