KRAMER ACCUSES GOVERNMENT OVER TRAIN ALCOHOL MOVES

12.37.22pm GMT Tue 1st Nov 2005

Ministers are facing both ways on their attitude to alcohol by allowing pubs to stay open later on the one hand, while proposing a blanket ban of alcohol consumption on public transport on the other.

Susan Kramer, MP for Richmond Park, raised the issue of longer opening hours with the Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell in the House of Commons last week saying it had become a 'free for all.'

Following press reports, at the weekend, that the government was now thinking of cracking down on drinking on buses, tubes and trains Susan Kramer attacked the double standards of Ministers.

Susan Kramer MP said:

"Now the Government is trying to patch one part of the problem by restricting drink on trains and buses. It would be better to simply reverse the faulty licensing law.

"We look like having more people tumbling out of pubs and clubs later, more inebriated and likely to disturb residents.

"The police are gearing up to tackle these problems but what a waste of resources"