How ridiculous is this

[paultheeagle]

Just been reading this..about a chain opening a pub in a motorway services...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-be ... s-22760874

Why?....It's madness.....It's the equivalent of opening a smoking room in the cardiac unit at the 'Ospital or a McDonalds in the obese clinic......Completely barmy, totally unnecessary and an accident waiting to happen.

[JenniC]

Could not agree more... Council said that had no grounds to refuse planing permission....

[david63]

Whilst on the face of it it would appear to be a daft idea, and one that could cause problems, I really cannot see an issue.

OK - there will be the argument that a driver can stop and have a drink, but a driver can pull off the motorway at any junction and very quickly find somewhere to get a drink 24/7 (it does not have to be a pub). Also there is nothing to stop a driver having a drink before he/she joins the motorway. If someone is intent on having a drink and driving then they will do it anyway.

Also why deny the passengers the opportunity of having a drink if they so wish when stopping at a motorway service area?

While I would never condone drinking a driving I would suggest that the majority of people do drink sensibly - however that will not prevent a "hue and cry" when there is an incident claimed to be due to someone having a drink at this motorway service area.

[Kendhni]

I agree David, a total non story.
The bars main source of revenue will probably be food .. and as you say, why should passengers not be able to enjoy a drink.
Elsewhere in the world it appears having bars alongside motorways/freeways is not an issue.

[JenniC]

While I would never condone drinking a driving I would suggest that the majority of people do drink sensibly - however that will not prevent a "hue and cry" when there is an incident claimed to be due to someone having a drink at this motorway service area.

Sorry guys not with you on this one, it is much easier to pull into a service station then pull off the motorway and puts further temptation in the way of the weak willed. Sends out the wrong message and one incident is one too may, especially for the innocents......... Not needed and not necessary....

[Manoverboard]

A non problem ... we however prefer to pull off the Motorway and locate a nice Country pub some place.

Nanny should mind her own business and allow people to work out the dangers, if any, for themselves.

[Silver_Shiney]

While I agree with David's and Ken's arguments, I have a gut feeling that this is a bad idea

[oldbluefox]

Not sure one way or another on this one. In the past everybody has had to suffer for the sins of the weak-willed minority so why shouldn't passengers enjoy a glass of their favourite tipple with their meal? If anyone is so attracted to alcohol there are plenty of ways they will drink no matter where the alcohol is coming from. I'm not convinced that a branch of Wetherspoons will make such a great deal of difference. Instead of querying the existence of Wetherspoons on our motorways I would favour tougher penalties for drink driving, and if that means losing your job as a consequence then so be it. If your job relies upon having a driving licence then all the more reason not to drink and drive.

[david63]

Another point is that, whether we agree or not, within the current drink/driving laws it is perfectly acceptable for me to have a glass of wine/small measure of spirits/half a pint of beer and then drive.

[Kendhni]

Another point is that, whether we agree or not, within the current drink/driving laws it is perfectly acceptable for me to have a glass of wine/small measure of spirits/half a pint of beer and then drive.

Hopefully you meant one and not all of the above

Besides that it doesn't matter how much I drink when I am driving ... Julie is the one that is really in control

[Kendhni]

More seriously though, I would be more concerned about the blatant disregard of the law in relation to mobile phones ... we don't necessarily need more laws, just enforcement of the ones we have.

[paultheeagle]

Like it or not in this country there is a problem with people drinking too much alcohol...Too many people cannot drink in a sensible way...I have seen it many, many times when people go into the pub for a quick half and come out as nissed as a pewt....It is barmy that they want want to put temptation in the way....Too many innocent people are killed or injured on our roads already....I can only see this causing more problems.

Do some of you honestly believe that allowing people to drink alcohol whilst they are driving on the motorway is a move in the right direction.

I used to have a light and bitter when I was driving, but stopped because I kept spilling the flamin' stuff all down me front.

[oldbluefox]

I don't really think the lack of a Wetherspoons is going to stop people drinking and driving. The truth is there is no easy answer to this one and personally I'm not sure it will make much difference.
As a matter of interest can you buy alcohol at all at the service areas? I've never looked so I wouldn't know.

[david63]

As a matter of interest can you buy alcohol at all at the service areas? I've never looked so I wouldn't know.

My understanding is that, under the current rules, you cannot buy any alcohol at any motorway service area. However the nonsense is that you can buy it just moments off the motorway.

[Kendhni]

As a matter of interest can you buy alcohol at all at the service areas? I've never looked so I wouldn't know.

My understanding is that, under the current rules, you cannot buy any alcohol at any motorway service area. However the nonsense is that you can buy it just moments off the motorway.

In other countries you can buy alcohol in service stations ... obviously johnny foreigner must be more responsible than us ... I have never been for all this nannyism.

[JenniC]

Still not for it and not just the drink aspect, but subjecting people to the horrors that Weatherspoons try and pass off as food is just as bad!!

[david63]

Still not for it and not just the drink aspect, but subjecting people to the horrors that Weatherspoons try and pass off as food is just as bad!!

Can't possibly be any worse that the "food" that is dished up now at motorway service areas.

[GillD46]

The only food we EVER buy from Service Areas, is from M&S Simply Food.

[towny44]

For those who have a problem with this I have a question, do you have the same problem with country pubs that have large car parks?

As others have said anyone who wants to drink whilst on a motorway journey can do so easily, but the vast majority of drivers are sensible and would never contemplate drink driving, those that do will not be any more tempted with this idea, in fact they, and we, may be safer since there are likely to be more people willing to stop a drinker getting back into his car from a motorway pub than from a supermarket car park.

PS Gill, we prefer Waitrose.

[Manoverboard]

Did anybody ever die as a consequence of eating a Scampi n Chips, with or without a glass of Lager ?

We used ro take the kids to North Wales for family holidays and part of the returning home ritual was a stop at a Pub en route for the above fare ... this was 30 years ago, no limits, but the driver only ever had a shandy.

Why would anybody want to spoil such simple pleasures for little families who cannot perhaps afford anything better at this stage of their lives ?

[JenniC]

Still not for it and not just the drink aspect, but subjecting people to the horrors that Weatherspoons try and pass off as food is just as bad!!

Can't possibly be any worse that the "food" that is dished up now at motorway service areas.

Not saying it is, but it is still crap IMHO!!!

[gfwgfw]

Jenni

So you have obvious eaten at 'Spoons with the odd millions of appreciative diners

Their faggots, mushy peas and mash is to die for

One of the most successful pub chain currently on the UK fine eating eating emporium scene

Bon appetite

[JenniC]

Jenni

So you have obvious eaten at 'Spoons with the odd millions of appreciative diners

Their faggots, mushy peas and mash is to die for

One of the most successful pub chain currently on the UK fine eating eating emporium scene

Bon appetite

Not sure if you are being serious or sarcastic have only eaten in one twice and both times it was awful, so never again just can't chance it.. Will stick with the non-chain pubs

[paultheeagle]

It is still a barmy, ridiculous, stupid idea and one I hope will not spread....Nothing to do with nanny state...Just a non starter, hopefully.

I agree with Jenni about Weatherspoon's grub..it's awful...Which is why you need a few pints inside you...after a skin full of alcohol inside you the food is nectar....apparently.

[Onelife]

I don’t know about you but when I was much younger the more I drank the merrier I got ... now it’s the case that the more I drink the sleeper I get.

Tiredness kills...as dose having pissed mates in the back of a car.

Regards

OL