never like this? My guess is one of the big differences is mobile phone cameras. Nobody took photos of the Gordon Riots so we're less immediately aware of what happened then. But Englishmen have a centuries-old reputation for drunkenness.
Its a god given right in a country that enjoys less than 4 months of sunshine per year to get totally blathered at every opportunity. Look at alcholism in Russia and Finlands suicide rate.
However I must remarks about jno's using Englishmen as an example. I believe that Scots, Irish and Welshmens drinking habits are so out of hand its almost comedy-like.
Then why does the goverment just quit picking on the smokers and the over weight and do some thing about the boozers.
They cost more all round that smokers and the over weight put together.
I grew up in the 60's and never ever was things as bad as they are now. Ok NYE was a night for celebrating with parties and clubbing but, as for the violence just for the hell of it.,no way. Plus we respected the police unlike todays thugs and as for the girls,to see them in a state as in the pics,it just did'nt occur to that extent. I blame the licencing laws. They did the wrong thing by bringing in 24 hour drinking and allowing shops etc to sell booze. All we had was the local off license or " Offie" and then Im sure the age to buy was 21 and we still enjoyed ourselves.
crikey i had a real scary moment then when I read about the lad in cardiff being knocked down, Jason hawkes, I mentally ran through the names of all my husbands nephews cos there ae so many!!!! And 3 of them live in Wales too, though near Dolgelleau (sp). I don;t think we have a Jason, I'll try to find out more though, it was quite upsetting reading that though, a shiver went down my spine and my stomach jumped!!!