Bingeing in the USA

Don't let anyone tell you that Northern Europe (inc the UK) is the only part of the world where binge drinking and its fallout happens. I went in to downtown Philadelphia PA, USA during the St Patrick's day celebrations on Saturday. OK St P's day is today (Monday) but everyone gets seriously stuck in on the weekend before as the day itself is, strangely, not a national holiday. Given the seriousness with which East Coast USA takes the anniversary I'm surprised at that.

Anyway, we get on the train to Philly at around 11.45 for the 45 minute ride downtown and its absolutely rammed with teenagers all dressed in shamrock green- boys and girls all necking beer like there's no tomorrow. By the time we've walked from the station to our destination we've passed about 10 'Irish' themed bars all of which have customers spilling on to the sidewalk drinking green beer, Guinness or pretty much anything. By the time we walk back a couple of hours later the beer is spilling on to the sidewalk and the punters are absolutely hammered. They're having fun, but there will be noise and naughtiness later on according to my contacts.

Here's a thing though - no surveillance cameras, and they put portaloos outside the pubs which prevents the - inevitable in the UK - peeing in public. What a good idea. No offence and no offences.