The British Medical Association wants a complete ban on alcohol to include intercity trains as well as cross-channel ferries. Wayne Harling, who previously worked on board East Midlands Trains services between Sheffield and London, said:

"In my experience, this is being over-hyped.  I very rarely saw any problems resulting from alcohol abuse on the trains, and on those rare occasions alcohol had been consumed before boarding the train - something that even the British Medical Association cannot hope to police.  Train companies rely on selling alcohol in order to supplement their revenues. A ban therefore would most likely result in higher train fares in order to recoup lost income and would affect all passengers."

If behavioural problems were a real issue on board our trains, then the answer would be to increase the presence of British Transport Police Officers and crack down hard on those who cause serious disruption.  Once again, this is a case of overriding the freedoms enjoyed by the law-abiding majority because a tiny proportion of people might abuse them.