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Londoners invited to party on the Tube before alcohol ban

Other News Materials 31 May 2008 23:45 (UTC +04:00)

Londoners were being urged to come along to a final "drinks party" on the capital's transport system before an alcohol ban comes into effect on Sunday, the AFP reported.

Organisers have used social networking websites such as Facebook to call on people to meet for a booze-up on London's underground 'Tube' trains and buses on Saturday night.

Some reports said 10,000 people were set to turn up to ride on trains on the busy Circle Line after responding to Facebook sites with names like "The Booze Tube" and "One Final Tube Booze Party".

Newly elected Mayor Boris Johnson introduced the alcohol ban in one of his first acts in office in a bid to cut down on anti-social behaviour.

From Sunday, anyone caught drinking from, or even carrying, open containers of alcohol will be ejected from trains.

Johnson said: "I firmly believe that banning the drinking of alcohol on London's public transport will create a better travelling environment for all Londoners and that if we drive out anti-social behaviour and so called minor crime then we will be able to get a firm grip on more serious crime."

But the ban has been criticised by the railworkers' union RMT as another burden on its overworked members.

The union's general secretary Bob Crow warned that it could put staff in greater danger of assault.

He said: "Violence against Tube staff is already a major problem, particularly from people who have been drinking, but now our members will be expected to approach people drinking and stop them or even remove them from the train or station."

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