The newly elected Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has announced that starting from next month, alcohol will be banned on public transport. The ban will apply to buses, trains, trams and stations and will come into force 1 June.

With this change in public transport’s regulation, the Johnson administration has a hope to decrease the percentage of crimes and accidents in the city.

NEWS.com.au reports that posters informing travellers of the new regulation will go on display long before the law comes into force.

The ban on drinking from or carrying open alcohol containers was a key manifesto pledge of Johnson, the irreverent journalist-turned MP who defeated incumbent Ken Livingstone in a closely fought election last week. Tracking crime, particularly serious violence among young people, was one of the main planks of Johnson’s election campaign and he has already vowed to put it at the forefront of his mayoralty.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the change will mean altering the “rules of carriage”, “the contract between Transport for London and its passengers” so that people are prevented from carrying opened bottles, cans or other containers containing alcoholic drink.

Recent figures have shown that 40 per cent of violent crime in London is alcohol-related and that some accident and emergency units are treating twice as many drunken patients as they did before 24-hour licensing was introduced in November 2005. Statistics also show that violent crime in London has increased by 13.7 per cent over the last eight years.

Johnson is also quoted commenting on the importance of making this change in the regulations of London’s transport system.

“I firmly believe that if we drive out so-called minor crime then we will be able to get a firm grip on more serious crime.”

Photo:© gipigrl

Related posts:

1. British Airways: London Heathrow Terminal 5 Problems
2. Halal Inn: First Alcohol Free Islamic Pub Opens In Britain
3. UK: New Forest National Park