OH those wretched Scotsmen making their way to soccer matches
Page 7
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
in buses loaded with drink! How the Peers of the Realm must hope that they have seen the last of them!
It is not that noble ladies are being insulted, or grouse moors being littered with empty bottles. It is just that the tippling travellers, and the problems they could raise for bus people, have occupied an inordinate length of time in the Upper House.
As their Lordships made perfectly plain yet again last week, they are not happy with the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill. Such matters as punishment for murder or the abolition of mandatory first diet caused little trouble.
But those sporting buses. That was a different matter. Everyone — not just the Scots — got a little hot under the collar, and on occasions a little confused.
Even the Government, who produced the Bill, was convinced by some of the arguments — it introduced an amendment to make life a little easier for coach hirers and drivers.
Two words kept causing trouble. "Reasonable", who is to decide that a bus man has taken reasonable steps to ensure that no alcohol is carried on the vehicle? Certainly not the Government, whose spokesman passed the responsibility on to the courts.
"Designated", the drinking ban applies only to vehicles travelling to matches designated by the Scottish Secretary. And that seems to mean only soccer. As a peeved Lord Ross of Marnock, who is honorary president of the Scottish Football Association, pointed out, there could be 80,000 at Murrayfield laden with booze, while the 90,000 at Hampden would not have a drop.
Apparently, Scottish football supporters are not the only offenders. There are, for instance, those people who go to banquets given by Viscount Massereene and Ferrard (presumably at his castle in Kent, for buses would find it difficult to turn up at his residence on the Isle of Mull).
These troublesome diners are presumably not the Viscount's personal guests, for they are hardly likely to turn up en ntasse aboard coaches. So, although he did not explain, they are presumably plebs paying for the privilege of eating in stately surroundings.
Anyway, whatever class they belong to, they frequently stop at a pub on the way, buy a lot of drink there and then, take it on to the bus.