One thing that could not be said about licensed premises in Norn Iron is that they are under regulated.
Which is why I am severely displeased by this. The government is, in it’s benvolence, working out a trade with the licensed trade. They’re giving one extra hour of drinking, and they’re taking what little freedom there is left.
So, there’s going to be a points system for closing pubs; there will be temporary closure orders; there will be provision for sting operations and kids will be allow in for longer1. And in return for this, we don’t even get the possibility of 24 hour opening. For why? Because we’re still backwards enough that many, many of ou political betters representatives believe that alcohol is all against God’s plan. Which sometimes amuses me, sometimes depresses me and generally confuses me.
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1 – I think that they meant this to be a good thing, but I can’t see why…
I think that children should be allowed in pubs but only in a special kind of pub. The kind of pub that children should be allowed in should serve food, have a play area, a garden and be ultra family-friendly. It should be a non-smoking environment and serve mainly soft drinks. Drunkenness should not be permitted in children-friendly pubs. There should be a sign on the door indicating that Children Are Welcome. Everyone else would then know not to go near it.
I disagree. Certain types of drunkenness could and should be encouraged. Acceptable drunks would be The Fool, The Faller-Over and The Singer-of-Songs-with-much-Double-Entendre.
Beats the hell out of trying to entertain the kids with clowns, don’t it?
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a child look happy in a pub. The only exception is when they are dressed up in First Communion outfits having fivers and tenners pressed on them.
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