�100 fine for public drunks?

[AB Asks]

A leading medic has said that people who are drunk in public should be fined �100 even if they aren't causing a nuisance. The doctor, plastic surgeon, Peter Mahaffey, said police should breathalyse and fine those who are drunk. His reasoning behind the drastic idea is to do with the scarring and nerve injuries he has seen his patients receive in drunken fights. He also claimed the increase on alcohol tax this was unfair, questioning why we should all be charged when many of us drink responsibly. What do you think? Could his idea of more fines really act in the fight against binge drinking?

[THECORBYLOON]

The surgeon thinks it unfair for those who drink responsibly to be taxed more and yet he wants all drunks to be fined even the ones causing no problems. Is there not a contradiction in his opinions?

[jno]

he just wants fines for those drunk in public. Getting drunk at home and beating up your spouse presumably doesn't bother him.

[Myriad2112]

not a good idea, I can't afford to pay out 700 pounds a week

[Lonnie]

If it was upto me, drinking in public would not only carry a heavy fine, but community service also,

There are places to drink, and walking down the road drinking alcohol isn't one of them.

[jno]

well, again, he isn't talking about drinking in public but about being drunk. You could have got drunk in a pub, then gone out onto the street and got in a fight - I imagine this is what he has in mind. Personally, I think the police have quite enough powers to interfere with the lives of the public already, but others may disagree.

[daffy654]

The extra tax on alcohol is hardly going to have an effect on the standard of living of a plastic surgeon is it? People having to have cosmetic surgery after drunken fights is what pays part of his wages so the guy is talking rubbish.

[Oneeyedvic]

I fail to see how anyone who is drunk in public is not being a public nuisance - whether it is a case of being disorderly, talking too loudly or just plain intimidating.

But I do agree that there are sufficient laws in place - they are just not being implemented.

[China Doll]

If I'm out for a drink there is a decent chance I will be slightly tiddly on the way home waiting for the bus. I don't think I'd like to be fined for lotiering at a bus stop with intent.

[VINNY100_2]

Why does he assume that everybody who's had one to many wants a fight..?perhaps he should cut down on his own intake if he cant handle the champagne.
Blimey...breathalysed fer walking now..bu66er me..its not safe to go out any more..!!..(:O)

[spaced]

up the age on drinking to 21 and that may limit the amount of drunk trouble making chavs walking our streets mugging, killing and raping people.

Put a stronger policy on off licences selling booze to kids. One strike and your out rule, not a slap on the wrist, which is what this country seems to do to all criminals.

Instead of wasting more time on this they should concentrate MORE on banned drivers and drink/dugged drivers, which seems to be killing more innocent people than some tanked up 30 something waiting for a bus.

[Gromit]

It is not against the law to get drunk so the idea of fining someone for it is preposterous. It is like saying all car drivers should be fined because some car drivers run people over.

Peter Mahaffey obviously is not busy enough in his job or it is so boring he seeks the thrill of publicity. A quick google finds that he regularly makes statements that get him in the papers. He is a frequent contributor to the British Medical Journal.

[Oneeyedvic]

Although It is not against the law to get drunk so the idea of fining someone for it is preposterous. is true, it is actually an offence to be drunk and disorderedly in a public place. It is also illegal to serve someone (or obtain drinks for someone) who is already drunk.

[jno]

that's the thing, though, Vic. It's already an offence to be drunk and disorderly. He wants an offence of being drunk and orderly.

I should be disappointed if ladies like China Doll were removed from our streets as a result of such legislation.

[ruby27]

I am with China on this one

When I drank alcohol, many a time after being with my girlfriends in thier house, I would have been classified as drunk and would travel back via a train or a taxi. Not drunk and then aggressive as I don't do violence. I don't see why I should have been fined a �100. Mind you it would be a good way of raising revenue off middle aged, middle class professional women.

Gromit. ARe you sure you are not a journalist, you always seem to be able to investigate and then come up with the background of these people

[nedflanders]

I can understand his point but how do you determine if you are just tiddly or drunk? Will there be a breath test limit? The government need to ban tesco et all from giving drink away for next to nothing! The big supermarkets are primarily to blame for cheap alcohol not off licences. They should ban all special offers on alcohol and even advertising of same if they want to get serious about binge drinking and a.s.b.

[China Doll]

If you are eating a donner kebab you are drunk not tiddley and should quite possibly be fined.

[youngmafbog]

This bloke is a ******* no two ways about it. or maybe muslim

Never heard so much b***ks in my life

[Lindylou]

There is no doubt whatsoever when someone is drunk. Have seen enough of it!!!! Not acceptable in a public place. Don't care WHAT you do in the privacy of your own home. But I don't want to see it - thank you very much!! If you have no self-esteem - or pride in yourself - then carry on. But NOT in a public place. Why should I want to see someone out of control of themselves? Urrgggg!!!!

[webbo3]

How many police and prison cells would they need on new years eve to arrest and fine everyone in trafalgar square, the notting hill carnival the cheltenham races (lots of drunk toffs and irish people).
completely unworkable...

Dave.

[Quinlad]

Lindylou, I feel the same about anyone (usually posh rugby types) who wear those beige-coloured chino and slip-on moccassins.

They clearly have no sense of self-worth or for aesthetic decency. It's makes the place look horrible and I can't be doing with it.

Doesn't mean it should be illegal though.