Monday, May 25, 2009
World beard champion, 2009
Meet David Traver, world beard champion.
Traver's 20.5 inches of coarse kink, cultivated over 2½ years and fertilized in Anchorage's northern air, took the title on Saturday.
Traver was among 300 competitors from around the globe who converged there over the weekend for the 2009 World Beard and Moustache Championships. His beard, dyed several colours and woven into the shape of a snowshoe, beat more than 140 others to become the coolest beard in the world. He took home a commemorative gold pan and a salmon fishing trip.
And now he's going to shave it off.
With video and photo galleries.
Traver's 20.5 inches of coarse kink, cultivated over 2½ years and fertilized in Anchorage's northern air, took the title on Saturday.
Traver was among 300 competitors from around the globe who converged there over the weekend for the 2009 World Beard and Moustache Championships. His beard, dyed several colours and woven into the shape of a snowshoe, beat more than 140 others to become the coolest beard in the world. He took home a commemorative gold pan and a salmon fishing trip.
And now he's going to shave it off.
With video and photo galleries.
Swarming bees hold New York workers hostage
A swarm of bees clustered around a Manhattan game store and trapped employees inside for hours as thousands of the insects gathered on the sidewalk and outside the building.
Worried-looking employees could be seen on the phone looking out the window as bees clustered around. Someone inside put a sign in the store window warning passers-by: "Look! ... closed due to bee infestation."
Most passers-by gave the GameStop store near Union Square a wide berth. But Edward Albers decided to try to help. Dressed in regular clothes, he managed to lure many bees into a box without getting stung.
Eventually, a bee specialist arrived in protective gear. He used the scent of a queen bee to collect the rest of the insects, and the store reopened for business.
Worried-looking employees could be seen on the phone looking out the window as bees clustered around. Someone inside put a sign in the store window warning passers-by: "Look! ... closed due to bee infestation."
Most passers-by gave the GameStop store near Union Square a wide berth. But Edward Albers decided to try to help. Dressed in regular clothes, he managed to lure many bees into a box without getting stung.
Eventually, a bee specialist arrived in protective gear. He used the scent of a queen bee to collect the rest of the insects, and the store reopened for business.
'Ants crawled out of neglected girl's mouth'
An Australian woman accused of the starvation murder of her seven-year-old daughter allegedly did not try to resuscitate the child because ants were crawling from her mouth, a New South Wales jury has been told.
The NSW Supreme Court, sitting at East Maitland, was told the seven-year-old girl, found dead at her Hawks Nest home on November 3, 2007, had the worst malnutrition one specialist had ever seen.
A post-mortem examination showed the child to be 106cm tall and weighing just 9kg at death, the court was told. "The face was distorted due to muscle wasting and no fat under the skin," Crown Prosecutor Peter Barnett SC told the jury. "The doctor found the child died of long-lasting starvation and neglect."
Mr Barnett said the child's father had told police his wife couldn't resuscitate the child because of the "black vomit and bull ants coming from her mouth".
Both parents, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are on trial after pleading not guilty to one count each of murder.
The jury of six men and six women had earlier been warned some of the photographic evidence to be presented could be as confronting as Nazi Germany holocaust images.
The NSW Supreme Court, sitting at East Maitland, was told the seven-year-old girl, found dead at her Hawks Nest home on November 3, 2007, had the worst malnutrition one specialist had ever seen.
A post-mortem examination showed the child to be 106cm tall and weighing just 9kg at death, the court was told. "The face was distorted due to muscle wasting and no fat under the skin," Crown Prosecutor Peter Barnett SC told the jury. "The doctor found the child died of long-lasting starvation and neglect."
Mr Barnett said the child's father had told police his wife couldn't resuscitate the child because of the "black vomit and bull ants coming from her mouth".
Both parents, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are on trial after pleading not guilty to one count each of murder.
The jury of six men and six women had earlier been warned some of the photographic evidence to be presented could be as confronting as Nazi Germany holocaust images.
Man 'killed partner for waking up dog'
A man who considered his dog a "child substitute" and rocked it to sleep every night murdered his partner because she woke the animal up, an Australian court has been told.
Anthony Sherna, 42, is accused of strangling Susanne Wild, 53, and burying her body in the backyard of their home at Tarneit in Melbourne's southwest. He's pleaded not guilty in the Victorian Supreme Court to murder.
The court was told Mr Sherna rocked his dog, Hubble, to sleep every night and that the animal was a "child substitute". As he was nursing the animal in February last year, Ms Wild approached him, still angry over a mobile phone bill, and woke up the dog.
Prosecutor Maitland Lincoln said Mr Sherna put the Jack Russell-Maltese Terrier cross to bed in the laundry, then removed the cord from his dressing gown and strangled Ms Wild. He then went to the Plaza Tavern at Werribee where he played poker machines for four hours before going to a brothel.
After a couple of days, Ms Wild's body began to smell so Mr Sherna wrapped it in sheets and fastened it with rope and plastic. The court was told he took his dog to a pet resort, then buried his de facto in the backyard, adding a row of plants alongside the grave. The accounts manager later confessed to police, telling them Ms Wild had screamed and caused Hubble to shake with fright.
Defence lawyer Jane Dixon SC said Mr Sherna had always intended to hand himself in to police and the jury had to decide whether he acted defensively.
Anthony Sherna, 42, is accused of strangling Susanne Wild, 53, and burying her body in the backyard of their home at Tarneit in Melbourne's southwest. He's pleaded not guilty in the Victorian Supreme Court to murder.
The court was told Mr Sherna rocked his dog, Hubble, to sleep every night and that the animal was a "child substitute". As he was nursing the animal in February last year, Ms Wild approached him, still angry over a mobile phone bill, and woke up the dog.
Prosecutor Maitland Lincoln said Mr Sherna put the Jack Russell-Maltese Terrier cross to bed in the laundry, then removed the cord from his dressing gown and strangled Ms Wild. He then went to the Plaza Tavern at Werribee where he played poker machines for four hours before going to a brothel.
After a couple of days, Ms Wild's body began to smell so Mr Sherna wrapped it in sheets and fastened it with rope and plastic. The court was told he took his dog to a pet resort, then buried his de facto in the backyard, adding a row of plants alongside the grave. The accounts manager later confessed to police, telling them Ms Wild had screamed and caused Hubble to shake with fright.
Defence lawyer Jane Dixon SC said Mr Sherna had always intended to hand himself in to police and the jury had to decide whether he acted defensively.
Swerving motorist caught 'in the act' with girlfriend
A man was caught having sex while driving because he and his girlfriend could not wait until they reached their destination, an Australian court has heard.
Bradley Dean Milne, 33, was charged with not wearing his seatbelt, driving without due care and drink-driving when a witness called police after seeing his car swerving all over the road. Darwin Magistrates Court heard that the couple were planning to drive to East Arm Wharf in the Mazda ute to have sex.
Police prosecutor Leigh Cahill said Milne "became aroused" and the woman gave him oral sex while he was driving until they reached the traffic lights at the Berrimah Rd intersection. Milne was swerving from one side of the road to the other until the car stopped at the lights. They turned right onto Berrimah Rd, and the woman straddled Milne while he kept driving, swerving into the kerbside and back into the middle lane.
When police stopped the car and Milne was asked why he had been drinking - with a blood alcohol concentration of .097 per cent - he said: "Come on, mate. What would you do? We were going to the wharf but we didn't quite get there."
Milne's lawyer Ian Rowbottam said that Milne was too embarrassed to speak about the incident again. Mr Rowbottam told the court that Milne had not been paying attention to his intoxication, and had been surprised at the reading. He wasn't concentrating on that - he was concentrating on his amorous situation," he said.
Magistrate Hugh Bradley said he would not focus on things that were not unlawful, but told Milne he needed to be more careful when driving. "If these things are going to happen, you need to stop driving," he said. He fined Milne $1400 and disqualified him from driving for six months.
Bradley Dean Milne, 33, was charged with not wearing his seatbelt, driving without due care and drink-driving when a witness called police after seeing his car swerving all over the road. Darwin Magistrates Court heard that the couple were planning to drive to East Arm Wharf in the Mazda ute to have sex.
Police prosecutor Leigh Cahill said Milne "became aroused" and the woman gave him oral sex while he was driving until they reached the traffic lights at the Berrimah Rd intersection. Milne was swerving from one side of the road to the other until the car stopped at the lights. They turned right onto Berrimah Rd, and the woman straddled Milne while he kept driving, swerving into the kerbside and back into the middle lane.
When police stopped the car and Milne was asked why he had been drinking - with a blood alcohol concentration of .097 per cent - he said: "Come on, mate. What would you do? We were going to the wharf but we didn't quite get there."
Milne's lawyer Ian Rowbottam said that Milne was too embarrassed to speak about the incident again. Mr Rowbottam told the court that Milne had not been paying attention to his intoxication, and had been surprised at the reading. He wasn't concentrating on that - he was concentrating on his amorous situation," he said.
Magistrate Hugh Bradley said he would not focus on things that were not unlawful, but told Milne he needed to be more careful when driving. "If these things are going to happen, you need to stop driving," he said. He fined Milne $1400 and disqualified him from driving for six months.
Woman strips then assaults husband
Passersby in downtown Seneca got a first hand look, albeit an uncomfortable one, at domestic violence.
Sgt. Wesley Moore with the Seneca Police Department confirmed that officers had taken Teresa Pinion into custody on a criminal domestic violence charge after what they said was an inexplicable assault.
Officers responded to complaints of a female and a male fighting. Those reports also advised that the female subject was completely naked. “Someone flagged me down and told me they were over near Lindsay Road and the husband had his shirt off, and the woman didn’t have a stitch of clothes on,” Moore said.
The arrest warrant states the husband had scratches on his back. Interviews with both subjects led officers to believe Pinion was the primary aggressor.
“She tried telling us he had taken her clothes off,” Moore said, adding that further interviews determined she had actually disrobed.“We just really have no idea why,” Moore said.
Pinion was booked at Oconee County Detention Center on a charge of second offence criminal domestic violence.
Sgt. Wesley Moore with the Seneca Police Department confirmed that officers had taken Teresa Pinion into custody on a criminal domestic violence charge after what they said was an inexplicable assault.
Officers responded to complaints of a female and a male fighting. Those reports also advised that the female subject was completely naked. “Someone flagged me down and told me they were over near Lindsay Road and the husband had his shirt off, and the woman didn’t have a stitch of clothes on,” Moore said.
The arrest warrant states the husband had scratches on his back. Interviews with both subjects led officers to believe Pinion was the primary aggressor.
“She tried telling us he had taken her clothes off,” Moore said, adding that further interviews determined she had actually disrobed.“We just really have no idea why,” Moore said.
Pinion was booked at Oconee County Detention Center on a charge of second offence criminal domestic violence.
Netherlands to close prisons for lack of criminals
The Dutch justice ministry has announced it will close eight prisons and cut 1,200 jobs in the prison system. A decline in crime has left many cells empty.
During the 1990s the Netherlands faced a shortage of prison cells, but a decline in crime has since led to overcapacity in the prison system. The country now has capacity for 14,000 prisoners but only 12,000 detainees.
Deputy Justice Minister Nebahat Albayrak announced that eight prisons will be closed, resulting in the loss of 1,200 jobs. Natural redundancy and other measures should prevent any forced lay-offs, the minister said.
The overcapacity is a result of the declining crime rate, which the ministry's research department expects to continue for some time.
Some reprieve might come from a deal with Belgium, which is facing overpopulation in its prisons. The two countries are working out an agreement to house Belgian prisoners in Dutch prisons. Some 500 Belgian prisoners could be transferred to the Tilburg prison by 2010.
The Netherlands would get 30 million euros in the deal, and it will allow the closing of the prisons in Rotterdam and Veenhuizen to be postponed until 2012.
During the 1990s the Netherlands faced a shortage of prison cells, but a decline in crime has since led to overcapacity in the prison system. The country now has capacity for 14,000 prisoners but only 12,000 detainees.
Deputy Justice Minister Nebahat Albayrak announced that eight prisons will be closed, resulting in the loss of 1,200 jobs. Natural redundancy and other measures should prevent any forced lay-offs, the minister said.
The overcapacity is a result of the declining crime rate, which the ministry's research department expects to continue for some time.
Some reprieve might come from a deal with Belgium, which is facing overpopulation in its prisons. The two countries are working out an agreement to house Belgian prisoners in Dutch prisons. Some 500 Belgian prisoners could be transferred to the Tilburg prison by 2010.
The Netherlands would get 30 million euros in the deal, and it will allow the closing of the prisons in Rotterdam and Veenhuizen to be postponed until 2012.
Horror story printed on toilet paper in Japan
In a country where ghosts are traditionally believed to hide in the loo, a Japanese company is advertising a new literary experience - a horror story printed on toilet paper.
Each roll carries several copies of a new nine-chapter novella written by Koji Suzuki, the Japanese author of the horror story "Ring," which has been made into movies in both Japan and Hollywood.
"Drop," set in a public restroom, takes up about three feet (90 centimeters) of a roll and can be read in just a few minutes, according to the manufacturer, Hayashi Paper.
The company promotes the toilet paper, which will sell for 210 yen ($2.20) a roll, as "a horror experience in the toilet." Toilets in Japan were traditionally tucked away in a dark corner of the house due to religious beliefs. Parents would tease children that a hairy hand might pull them down into the dark pool below.
Each roll carries several copies of a new nine-chapter novella written by Koji Suzuki, the Japanese author of the horror story "Ring," which has been made into movies in both Japan and Hollywood.
"Drop," set in a public restroom, takes up about three feet (90 centimeters) of a roll and can be read in just a few minutes, according to the manufacturer, Hayashi Paper.
The company promotes the toilet paper, which will sell for 210 yen ($2.20) a roll, as "a horror experience in the toilet." Toilets in Japan were traditionally tucked away in a dark corner of the house due to religious beliefs. Parents would tease children that a hairy hand might pull them down into the dark pool below.
Man claims self defence in bird assault
A Kansas man is claiming self-defence in an assault on a rare seagull.
Dragan Djuric received a $275 fine for beating a Heermann's Gull when it tried to eat his wife's ice cream in Laguna Beach. Djuric is contesting the fine, claiming self-defence.
A U.S. Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman told the Orange County Register that Dragan Djuric of Wichita is appealing the agency's fine in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.
Police say Djuric beat a Heermann's gull with a stick, breaking its wing. The bird was later euthanized.
Djuric claimed that he was acting in self-defence after the bird swooped down and hit his wife's head and tried to grab her ice cream.
Fish and Wildlife officials say witnesses told authorities the ice cream fell on its own and when gulls descended to eat it, Djuric struck them.
Dragan Djuric received a $275 fine for beating a Heermann's Gull when it tried to eat his wife's ice cream in Laguna Beach. Djuric is contesting the fine, claiming self-defence.
A U.S. Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman told the Orange County Register that Dragan Djuric of Wichita is appealing the agency's fine in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.
Police say Djuric beat a Heermann's gull with a stick, breaking its wing. The bird was later euthanized.
Djuric claimed that he was acting in self-defence after the bird swooped down and hit his wife's head and tried to grab her ice cream.
Fish and Wildlife officials say witnesses told authorities the ice cream fell on its own and when gulls descended to eat it, Djuric struck them.
BBC plans to send poet to Afghanistan battlefields
When Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon told of life in first world war trenches, technology did not allow soldiers to kill at long range at the press of a button and dispatches from the French battlefields took days to reach home.
As the nature of warfare has changed, so have communications, but a BBC team is hoping to revive the British tradition of war poetry by taking one of the country's leading poets to Afghanistan.
The programme-makers plan to film Simon Armitage's response to frontline operations around Helmand province. While a handful of visual artists have worked in the theatre of war since fighting began in October 2001, Armitage will be the first poet to be granted access.
The Yorkshire writer, who was heavily tipped for the post of poet laureate that went to Carol Ann Duffy this month, already has an impressive track record of work reflecting the impact of war. So far Armitage's writing has concentrated on the trauma of combatants who have returned to pick up the threads of their lives in Britain. The award-winning poet believes that the current wars, although conducted far away, have altered the nature of British life.
"It could be argued that the permanent backdrop of our current military situation makes almost every poem a war poem," he said.
This weekend Armitage said that the film project was still in its infancy and in the hands of the BBC and the Ministry of Defence. The planned one-hour documentary, Behind the Lines, is to be produced by BBC veteran Roger Courtier, who hopes to send Armitage to Helmand for a month. Courtier believes the tradition of the British war poet deserves to be reinstated: "We think it is a fabulous idea, but are at the early stages. It will be some time before it comes to fruition."
As the nature of warfare has changed, so have communications, but a BBC team is hoping to revive the British tradition of war poetry by taking one of the country's leading poets to Afghanistan.
The programme-makers plan to film Simon Armitage's response to frontline operations around Helmand province. While a handful of visual artists have worked in the theatre of war since fighting began in October 2001, Armitage will be the first poet to be granted access.
The Yorkshire writer, who was heavily tipped for the post of poet laureate that went to Carol Ann Duffy this month, already has an impressive track record of work reflecting the impact of war. So far Armitage's writing has concentrated on the trauma of combatants who have returned to pick up the threads of their lives in Britain. The award-winning poet believes that the current wars, although conducted far away, have altered the nature of British life.
"It could be argued that the permanent backdrop of our current military situation makes almost every poem a war poem," he said.
This weekend Armitage said that the film project was still in its infancy and in the hands of the BBC and the Ministry of Defence. The planned one-hour documentary, Behind the Lines, is to be produced by BBC veteran Roger Courtier, who hopes to send Armitage to Helmand for a month. Courtier believes the tradition of the British war poet deserves to be reinstated: "We think it is a fabulous idea, but are at the early stages. It will be some time before it comes to fruition."
Complaints over swearing TV chef
The BBC has received 40 complaints about a television chef who swore during a live morning broadcast.
Viewers complained after the pressure got to Michelin-starred chef Eric Chavot during an omelette-making contest on BBC One's Saturday Kitchen.
A BBC spokeswoman said the programme's presenter, James Martin, and Mr Chavot apologised to viewers immediately.
She said the corporation was "very sorry" for any offence caused, and that Mr Chavot simply "forgot where he was".
Mr Chavot said during the 1000 BST broadcast on BBC One that he was so comfortable on the set he thought he was in his own kitchen at home.
The BBC spokeswoman said: "On this morning's edition of Saturday Kitchen, which is a live programme, guest chef Eric Chavot, whilst participating in the programme's omelette cooking competition, forgot where he was and used offensive language."
Viewers complained after the pressure got to Michelin-starred chef Eric Chavot during an omelette-making contest on BBC One's Saturday Kitchen.
A BBC spokeswoman said the programme's presenter, James Martin, and Mr Chavot apologised to viewers immediately.
She said the corporation was "very sorry" for any offence caused, and that Mr Chavot simply "forgot where he was".
Mr Chavot said during the 1000 BST broadcast on BBC One that he was so comfortable on the set he thought he was in his own kitchen at home.
The BBC spokeswoman said: "On this morning's edition of Saturday Kitchen, which is a live programme, guest chef Eric Chavot, whilst participating in the programme's omelette cooking competition, forgot where he was and used offensive language."
Businessman hunts down thief in his helicopter
Millionaire businessman Jeremy Taylor used his helicopter to hunt down a thief who broke into his yard, tracking him relentlessly for more than two hours across "half of north Norfolk". Mr Taylor, 38, was taking off in his £1.9 million aircraft for a business trip when he noticed his gates were open and a white van was speeding away from his home in Binham.
Having had other break-ins in the past, Mr Taylor was determined not to let this thief get away. And the fleeing burglar, who realised he was being followed, made an equally determined effort to get away during the ensuing chase of nearly 50 miles. First he drove to Wells-next-the-Sea, performing a u-turn designed to throw Mr Taylor off the scent. He then drove through Walsingham to Fakenham and tried to lose himself among other white vans in the town. Mr Taylor was forced to fly higher because of air traffic regulations about flying over congested areas.
But the dumper truck company executive, who has four children, managed to stay on the trail and the chase continued to Guist, where the burglar performed a sharp left and headed towards Hindolveston and Melton Constable. At one point, the burglar went to ground in some woods and, for about 20 minutes, Mr Taylor hovered overheard.
The businessman said: "I was cross. I thought 'You are not going to get away from me'. I was determined to catch him because I have had break-ins before – but I have never had to chase anyone in a helicopter before. The thief knew I was following him all the time. I ended up chasing it around half of north Norfolk. The van was probably going at about 50 to 60mph but the helicopter is capable of 190mph and I was overhead or sitting behind him all the time."
He called his sister Caroline, 28, and his mother Anne on his satellite phone and they joined in the chase in their cars, managing to get the licence plate number of the van. His mother was forced to give up the hunt when her car ran out of petrol. Eventually the burglar decided to abandoned the van in the village of Stody and flee on foot. However police traced him using the number plate and he was arrested at his home in Briston.
On Friday, a 28-year-old man admitted stealing firewood, pitchforks, diesel cans and a tractor battery and was given a conditional discharge. The chase cost Mr Taylor about £2,500 in fuel – much more than the cost of the stolen goods – but he said the "principle" was what was important. However he expressed his disappointment at the court ruling. "I am annoyed that he got away with a slap on the wrist," Mr Taylor said.
Having had other break-ins in the past, Mr Taylor was determined not to let this thief get away. And the fleeing burglar, who realised he was being followed, made an equally determined effort to get away during the ensuing chase of nearly 50 miles. First he drove to Wells-next-the-Sea, performing a u-turn designed to throw Mr Taylor off the scent. He then drove through Walsingham to Fakenham and tried to lose himself among other white vans in the town. Mr Taylor was forced to fly higher because of air traffic regulations about flying over congested areas.
But the dumper truck company executive, who has four children, managed to stay on the trail and the chase continued to Guist, where the burglar performed a sharp left and headed towards Hindolveston and Melton Constable. At one point, the burglar went to ground in some woods and, for about 20 minutes, Mr Taylor hovered overheard.
The businessman said: "I was cross. I thought 'You are not going to get away from me'. I was determined to catch him because I have had break-ins before – but I have never had to chase anyone in a helicopter before. The thief knew I was following him all the time. I ended up chasing it around half of north Norfolk. The van was probably going at about 50 to 60mph but the helicopter is capable of 190mph and I was overhead or sitting behind him all the time."
He called his sister Caroline, 28, and his mother Anne on his satellite phone and they joined in the chase in their cars, managing to get the licence plate number of the van. His mother was forced to give up the hunt when her car ran out of petrol. Eventually the burglar decided to abandoned the van in the village of Stody and flee on foot. However police traced him using the number plate and he was arrested at his home in Briston.
On Friday, a 28-year-old man admitted stealing firewood, pitchforks, diesel cans and a tractor battery and was given a conditional discharge. The chase cost Mr Taylor about £2,500 in fuel – much more than the cost of the stolen goods – but he said the "principle" was what was important. However he expressed his disappointment at the court ruling. "I am annoyed that he got away with a slap on the wrist," Mr Taylor said.
Drinkers told to form an orderly queue in attempt to avoid pub violence
Drinkers in Oldham will have to queue at bars and buy no more than two beers at a time in an attempt to curb violence and binge-drinking.
Customers will be encouraged to stand behind rope barriers similar to those used in banks and post offices as they wait to be served, while drinking in the queue will also be discouraged, under new proposals.
The new rules have been put in place by Oldham Council in all 22 pubs in the town centre. The 2003 Licensing Act allows police and trading standards to apply for variations in a pub licence if these is concern about alcohol-related violence.
Derek Heffernan, a Liberal Democrat councillor, said: "There would have to be some form of barrier so people couldn't push past, either a rope or perhaps something stronger.
"It would be the end of buying a round but we have to do something to calm things down. There have been fights and stabbings and it's not right that people going out for the evening have to worry about being attacked."
Critics, however, have branded the new plans "unnecessary". "We have no problem with tackling problem drinking but this is not the way to go about it," said Mark Hastings, of the British Beer and Pub Association. "These measures are costly, unnecessary and totally disproportionate at a time when around 40 pubs are closing every week. People aren't going to want to drink if they have to queue up as if they're in the post office."
Customers will be encouraged to stand behind rope barriers similar to those used in banks and post offices as they wait to be served, while drinking in the queue will also be discouraged, under new proposals.
The new rules have been put in place by Oldham Council in all 22 pubs in the town centre. The 2003 Licensing Act allows police and trading standards to apply for variations in a pub licence if these is concern about alcohol-related violence.
Derek Heffernan, a Liberal Democrat councillor, said: "There would have to be some form of barrier so people couldn't push past, either a rope or perhaps something stronger.
"It would be the end of buying a round but we have to do something to calm things down. There have been fights and stabbings and it's not right that people going out for the evening have to worry about being attacked."
Critics, however, have branded the new plans "unnecessary". "We have no problem with tackling problem drinking but this is not the way to go about it," said Mark Hastings, of the British Beer and Pub Association. "These measures are costly, unnecessary and totally disproportionate at a time when around 40 pubs are closing every week. People aren't going to want to drink if they have to queue up as if they're in the post office."
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)