I love this thread!

There was a spot on CBC Radio a while back about how Eastern European cities used to lobby to get their local airports added as Ryan Air and Easy Jet destinations.

Apparently now some of those same places are lobbying to get Ryan Air and Easy Jet struck off, because the British stag and hen parties have gotten so out of control- town centres are swarmed with drunks, there is increasing vandelism, the cobblestones are awash with vomit, little old ladies are afraid to venture outside on weekends. Some bars have actually banned all British customers.

When visiting my sister in Leicester this year, I did notice that literally every second shop in town was a pub or bar. There were also these areas that had signs designating them as "No Alcohol Zones", usually a small park or side street or something. And people seem to dispose of their empty beer cans by tucking them onto storefront windowledges, doorframes, and along the walls in alleyways. My favourite was this nice little park with a "No Alcohol Zone" sign, and all these beer cans bobbing in the water fountain.

To be fair, though, my sister claims Leicester is the chav capital of the UK, so perhaps it is a more extreme example.

I actually think the drinking problem is separate from the rowdiness/hooligan problem. Lots of northern countries have problems with alcoholism (Canada, Scandanavia, Baltics) but without the extreme behaviour.

The UK is so obsessed with controlling anti-social behaviour, all it seems to do is cultivate it.

In Australia, some of us prefer to respond to 'convicts in chains' taunts from our Pommy friends by reminding them that we regard Britain as 'where the convicts came from'. Seriously though, the sort of misbehaviour we're talking about - and my compatriots are at times among the main culprits - is usually plain old bullying by young males who think they can get away with it, under the guise of 'having a good time away from home'. It's up to all of us to let them know unequivocally that what's unacceptable at home is unacceptable elsewhere - easier said than done of course. In the meantime, we can only cringe and hope.

It's been so long since I was invited to a party where anyone fell into a canal.

We have never had "vast numbers of soccer vandals". I really don't know where to start on this. So i won't.

What is certainly true is that the British when drunk in large numbers are not a pretty sight. But it really isn't just us.

Where I sit at the Lane is near a block of seats that are sold to Scandiwegian supporters clubs as part of a weekend package.

It's easy to spot the reindeer-botherers. They're all seven foot tall. They all have mullets and they are all roaring pissed by lunchtime. They treat London as a cheap booze destination (which to them it is).

They behave themselves at the Lane (where it is wise to mind your ps and qs) but they go on viking style rampages afterwards.

It seems to be a northern european thing.

Similarly, we get a reasonable number of Danes and Noewegians - affectionately referred to aas "Nogs" after a childrens TV program.

The behaviour is very similar - they are "Lads" out for a good weekend, which for some cultures, including Britain, means drinking to excess, and passing out on a pavement somewhere (Waking up in a strangers bed an optional extra).

Spurs have drawn Prague in the UEFA - so that's another city laid waste! (as if Prague doen't know all about British Stag Parties).

Actually in Prague it's yankee colege types that are the real pains - they're all still on their L plates as drinkers and get absolutely ratted.

"Actually in Prague it's yankee colege types that are the real pains - they're all still on their L plates as drinkers and get absolutely ratted."

You make it sound as if alcoholism, intoxication, and binge drinking are good things.

Perhaps that's part of the problem.

Most people I know from the UK are binge drinkers, and the only social activity they seem to have is getting drunk. I rather doubt that the rest of the world looks upon these drunken episodes with admiration, particularly when they involve vomiting and urinating in the street, disruption of public order, vandalism, and so on.

Then you're mixing in the wrong circles, AnthonyGA.

I agree, Patrick et al...

The Brits are champion world class drinkers. Ne plus ultra.....thank goodness.....there will ALWAYS BE AN ENGLAND!! Of course, the Irish aren't too shabby.

During Oktoberfest, many nationalities come to my town to get totally wasted.

I have not seen that many differences in the behaviour of drunk Germans, Britons, Italians, Americans, Australians, Irish, or Scandinavians. They all drink, pass out, get concious again, vomit, drink more, and so on.

Rowdyism is not such a big issue here. If you freaked out after too much booze, it would be seen as a sign that you were not able to cope with the amount of alcohol you had. And no young German male would want to be seen in that light ;-)

That does not mean that they are never loud or would not get on others' nerves. But demolishing a pub or causing major damages is not really common.

<90% of people who fall into Amsterdam's canals are British.

I am very proud of this fact.

CHOLMONDLEYPATRIOTICLIE.>

And the other 10% are pushed into the canals by drunken British louts

I have to say that I know my way around binge drinking, and that the way it has become routine in the UK is something else. Maybe all my British friends are just degenerates, but everytime I visit them, it descends into a level of drunkenness that rivals my university exploits. And it would be one thing if we were the only ones acting like this, but we aren't.

Well, it's not routine among anyone I know: frankly, I've always thought of it as something for the students and the underclass.

It's something you do when you're a kid.

As you get older you drink less quantities of more expensive hooch. At least that's my experience - but even "moderate" drinkers in the UK would get "an intervention" in the USA.

What's a "chav"?

"Chavs, Hoodies, Neds, Townies, Kevs, Charva, Steeks, Spides, Bazzas, Yarcos, Ratboys, Skangers, Scutters, Janners, Stigs, Scallies, Hood Rats, whatever you know them as, this site is about them, Britain's ASBO peasant underclass that are breeding faster than vermin and are over our towns and cities!"


http://chavscum.com/

In reply to the OP - I suppose all those drunken prats on holiday in Mexico (Cancun etc) are just Brits with silly accents ?

Doesn't anyone else enjoy the irony that the mayor is concerned about behavior in the Red Light District?

SusanSDG wrote: "Doesn't anyone else enjoy the irony that the mayor is concerned about behavior in the Red Light District?"

I see no irony in it whatsoever. The women who work there (in particular) and other people in the area should not have to put up with rowdy drunks.