Why we must say yes to ball games...
If ever there was an example of the power of social media, it’s in the picture of Diane Abbott drinking an M&S can of mojito on a London Overground train.
Within hours of the photo first emerging, Twitter was alight with memes either mocking her or backing her.
The Shadow Home Secretary then tweeted an apology for drinking alcohol on Transport for London’s network because it has been illegal since 2008.
But what she thought must have been an innocent tipple on the train caused a storm and a rush to M&S stores for people looking to follow her lead. The drink has been selling out across the country.
What’s so surprising is not so much the debate sparked by the picture, but the fact that it is a seasoned politician at the centre of it. As someone who knows how both the media and social media work, who must be used to people snapping crafty pics of her on their phones, I’m amazed she wasn’t more careful about what she was being seen to do in public.
Most people drink responsibly, and it’s not as though Diane Abbott appeared drunk or out of control, but I’ve got to say that if I board a train and see someone on their own or in a group sitting with cans of beer or a bottle of wine, I’d avoid them.
If you find yourself captive in a train or tube compartment with people who are drunk and out of control it’s terrifying and I wouldn’t wish that situation on anyone. When there’s no escape it can quickly turn into a nightmare scenario.
For that reason I think it’s time efforts were stepped up to stop alcohol abuse on all forms of transport. If that requires an outright ban then so be it.
There are still way too many cases of drunks causing mayhem on flights and trains. Since I started flying regularly, I’ve become more aware of how staff are being replaced by machines and robots at airports. You check yourself in, weigh your own bag and swipe yourself through security machines. So why not have automated checks where people are breathalysed before they board?
If we drank responsibly there wouldn’t be a problem, but we can’t afford to keep putting passengers at risk – and politicians should lead by example.