Tackling the Sauce of the Problem

It seems that the US is found of tackling its problems at the source. Too many drugs flooding in? Let's go to Cuba and nip it in the bud. Afghan-based terrorists? Take the war to them... and anyone else in the neighbourhood. Problem with drunks? Arrest them in the bars. That's right, not outside the bars but IN the bars. Well, in Texas at least...

Now before we carp on about the ridiculousness of such an idea I have to say I am reminded of my many years spent earning an extra few bob as a bar-steward. At that time there was actually a law in existence (and maybe there still is) whereby it was illegal to serve alcohol to someone who was under the influence of, erm, alcohol. Taken literally you could serve everyone one drink but then if they came back for more you would have to turn them away. Although I suppose a customer could always buy all the drinks he / she intended to consume at once, before a drop touched their lips...

I understand the basis behind laws like this. I know that alcohol can ignite terribly anti-social behaviour and something needs to be done to protect others from the fall-out. But these kind of fuzzy, not quite implementable laws usually end up having limited impact on their intended targets and more often than not catch out those who are undeserving. For example...

...Should I ever be in Texas you will probably find me, at some point, in a bar. And as I will more than likely be on holiday at the time I shall probably indulge in a few beers. And yes, I might even end up quite pissed. But I would never, under any circumstances, leave the bar and attempt to drive. Nor am I the kind to go around starting fights. Or for that matter be 'inappropriate' with women. But it's virtually guarranteed that as the happy, smiley and often obvious drunk that I am I would be among the first in the back of the police-wagon whilst Mr Broody in the corner who had been quietly nursing 3 bottles of cheap whiskey all evening innocently slips out the door and goes home to batter the fuck out of his wife.

Ah well, what can you do? I just hope that if they do bang me up they have enough kindness in their hearts to send me to a place like this.....

Cheers m'dears!