Man who'd drunk six pints couldn't get the train home

[Adlington]

The Liverpool Echo reports:

A 54-year-old man 'demanded police arrest him' after a guard told him he was too drunk to board his train. James Kadiri was stopped for being "too drunk" as he attempted to travel home to Chester from Liverpool Central on Monday. He claims he had drunk six pints but was "nowhere near drunk" as he reached the station at around 8pm.

James said: "I went to get my ticket out but dropped it on the floor, when I picked it up the guard told me I was too drunk to get on the train." An argument then erupted between the two men and British Transport Police were called.

Although he claims officers refused to arrest him at first, James said he repeatedly insisted for 20 minutes as he wanted the incident to be recorded - and he didn't want to have to pay £65 to get home in a taxi. He continued: "I did the right thing as I didn't drive and used public transport, but if I am going for a few drinks, I expect to get home.

James was taken to St Annes Street police station and released shortly after. He says he is thankful to the officers for how they handled the situation.

He added: "Even if I was drunk, why couldn't I get on there? I know there is a policy but it's double standards. If I couldn't get on there when I was drunk, why are the trains full after the [ Aintree ] races and on the last service on a Saturday? There is no consistency to the policy."

There is a poll in the quoted article. At the moment of writing 75% of votes are for "Everyone else is allowed on [ the train ] when drunk so why not him?". Which, BTW, is also my opinion.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Merseyrail do have a bit of a reputation for taking a hard line on this. Which to me overall is not sensible, as the person's safety is far less assured if they are dumped back on the streets. Really, they're either fit to be carried by train or they should be arrested for D&D or similar, in my view, and chucked in the cells to sober up.

 

[Tracked]

No option for "I suspect that's not quite the whole story from him", which would've been my choice

 

[Bletchleyite]

No option for "I suspect that's not quite the whole story from him", which would've been my choice

If you watch "The Railway" from some time ago, that confirms that the story does, in Merseyrail's case, entirely stack up.

 

[yorksrob]

Being a bit of a clutz, I sometimes drop things whether I've had some beers or not. I'd be quite annoyed to be barred from boarding a train for such a reason.

 

[Statto]

Have had more including shots & still been allowed to get on the train at Liverpool Central, i suspect that's not the only reason he was prevented from catching a train.

 

[Mag_seven]

He continued: "I did the right thing as I didn't drive and used public transport, but if I am going for a few drinks, I expect to get home.

Sense of entitlement alert!

 

[Clip]

Being a bit of a clutz, I sometimes drop things whether I've had some beers or not. I'd be quite annoyed to be barred from boarding a train for such a reason.

he wasnt prevented from boarding cos he dropped something but the guard decided he was too drunk to travel on his train.

 

[LowLevel]

We can't get BTP to attend serious assaults promptly, the idea of them manning every station in the land to breathalyse Mrs Miggins after a few sherries isn't happening.

 

[BrendaRobinson]

Sense of entitlement alert!

I'd disagree.

I can almost certainly guarantee that if you phoned your local police station and told them you'd had way too much to drink but needed to get home, you'd be told "do NOT drive, get public transport".

Anyone know a police officer? Might be a worthwhile social experiment to get a real world answer.

 

[rg177]

There must be more to this otherwise Saturday evening York to Newcastle services would be running decidedly empty

I've used plenty public transport having had a few too many- I just make sure I keep myself to myself and not cause a nuisance. Not had a problem yet.

 

[Mag_seven]

I'd disagree.

I can almost certainly guarantee that if you phoned your local police station and told them you'd had way too much to drink but needed to get home, you'd be told "do NOT drive, get public transport".

Indeed but the public transport operator still reserves the right to refuse travel if it sees fit - that needs to be understood before people go out and have a skinful and expect the operator to carry them regardless of what state they are in.

 

[urbophile]

If he'd has six pints and was on a Merseyrail train to Chester, I'd be concerned that he might feel compelled to 'commit a nuisance' long before his destination.

 

[benbristow]

6 pints? Unless he was being a neuisance that's not even that bad really. Guess he'd be more sleepy than anything else.

Seems like there's more to this story

 

[Basher]

That’s the trouble with our society, everyone is expected to take responsibility for an individuals stupidity. Someone who gets into a drunken state should be just pushed on to the streets or locked up for the night and pay a fine in the morning.

 

[Iskra]

There's a lot of puritanical saints on RUK, judging by some of the comments.

 

[Basher]

It’s the same with many news items, someone who thinks they have been hard done by, don’t look at their previous actions that led to their situation. People have to take responsibility for their actions. If you get drunk or take drugs, they should not expect someone to look after you.
that is not
puritanical

 

[Iskra]

It’s the same with many news items, someone who thinks they have been hard done by, don’t look at their previous actions that led to their situation. People have to take responsibility for their actions. If you get drunk or take drugs, they should not expect someone to look after you.
that is not
puritanical

He expected to be able to board public transport, not have a personal steward to accompany him home.

 

[DarloRich]

six pints? What a lightweight! I suspect booze taken wasn't the reason for being refused travel

If he'd has six pints and was on a Merseyrail train to Chester, I'd be concerned that he might feel compelled to 'commit a nuisance' long before his destination.

really? Dont be silly. Cant beat the old RUK hair shirt puritanism!

People have to take responsibility for their actions. If you get drunk or take drugs, they should not expect someone to look after you.
that is not
puritanical

what a silly post. Perhaps he should have taken responsibility and drove home..............

 

[sheff1]

Sense of entitlement alert!

Complete nonsense ! If I go for a few drinks I, too, expect to get home.

Of course we have absolutely no idea what condition Mr Kadiri was in, nor what the full sequence of events was, so whether the action was justified or not we cannot even guess.

 

[haggishunter]

It’s the same with many news items, someone who thinks they have been hard done by, don’t look at their previous actions that led to their situation. People have to take responsibility for their actions. If you get drunk or take drugs, they should not expect someone to look after you.
that is not
puritanical

If the story stacks up, he wasn't expecting anyone to look after him, nor would I expect someone to look after me after a few drinks. But I would not expect to be refused to board a train for fumbling and dropping a ticket. I'm sure I'm not the only person to have dropped a ticket at ticket barriers completely sober.

 

[Skie]

I've known colleagues who get 'tipsy' after only a few pints refused entry at Liverpool Central. It's all about how you look when approaching the barriers, if you can't walk in a straight enough line they will spot it and likely refuse you entry. The number of pints is completely irrelevant, but an inability to control your body does concern them.

I know I make a particular effort to walk straight when I get there

 

[nedchester]

It’s the kebab that gave him away.

No one has a kebab unless they’ve had a skin full!

 

[bussnapperwm]

It’s the kebab that gave him away.

No one has a kebab unless they’ve had a skin full!

I willingly have a kebab at work whenever I forget to do my packed lunch. So based on that I'm obviously breaching my employers alcohol policy as I would have had a "skin full"

 

[muz379]

James said: "I went to get my ticket out but dropped it on the floor, when I picked it up the guard told me I was too drunk to get on the train." An argument then erupted between the two men and British Transport Police were called.

Its probably the arguing with the staff which meant the staff insisted he could not travel .

Besides the article linked says the incident occurred at 8PM . Regardless of the rights or wrongs of the guard refusing his travel , he had plenty of time to get a later train , which indeed he did after being de arrested by the police following some words of caution .

Surely the thread title and headline should read "Man who argued with rail staff had to get later train home "

 

[boxy321]

Awesome kebab on the train. Hope he shared it

 

[trainophile]

If he'd has six pints and was on a Merseyrail train to Chester, I'd be concerned that he might feel compelled to 'commit a nuisance' long before his destination.

I took this comment to be related to the absence of toilets on Merseyrail trains. Must admit it was the first thing I thought of when reading the opening post.

 

[philthetube]

If the guard considered him to be a risk to himself, risk of falling down gap or similar then he was right to refuse him

 

[nedchester]

I willingly have a kebab at work whenever I forget to do my packed lunch. So based on that I'm obviously breaching my employers alcohol policy as I would have had a "skin full"

Some people have problems admitting their addictions!!!

 

[jamesst]

Two sides to every story, the (printed in Manchester) Liverpool Echo is well known for its sensationalism and obligatory sad/stern faced accompanying pictures!