German stations clamp down on alcohol consumption

A cold lager and a takeaway currywurst on the platform while waiting for your train is almost de rigueur at German railway stations. 

No more. 

Deutsche Bahn (DB) is introducing a nationwide ban on alcohol consumption at all of its railway stations as part of a major safety initiative designed to protect passengers and frontline staff, news hub Travel Mole reports.

The measure will be rolled out across Germany’s 5,400 train stations in phases and will be fully implemented by October 15. 

DB said the decision follows a series of violent incidents, including what it described as a “brutal and senseless” attack on July 17 on a train driver. 

The rail operator said the incident reinforced concerns about the connection between excessive alcohol consumption and violent behaviour at stations.

“We are taking decisive action by removing alcohol consumption from our stations,” said DB CEO Evelyn Palla. 

“Too often we have seen that where large amounts of alcohol are consumed, violence also increases. The recent attack has shown once again why this step is necessary. We are serious about improving safety for our employees and our passengers.“

The alcohol ban will be introduced under Deutsche Bahn’s station regulations. Local station rules will be updated over the coming weeks in cooperation with municipalities, public authorities and local administrations before the policy takes effect nationwide.

Several major German stations already prohibit alcohol consumption. Around 30 stations, have operated under these restrictions, including Berlin Zoologischer Garten and Berlin Ostbahnhof, Bonn, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Mannheim and Munich.

DB says the results have been positive. 

“The experience has been clear,” Palla said. “Alcohol-free stations mean less violence and less litter.“

The next phase of the rollout begins on September 1, when Berlin Central Station, Berlin Gesundbrunnen, Kiel and Braunschweig stations will become alcohol-free. The remaining stations across the country will follow in stages through mid-October.

The ban applies only to alcohol consumption in station areas. Restaurants, cafés and other licensed food and beverage outlets located inside stations are exempt and may continue serving alcoholic drinks under existing regulations. 

Passengers will also still be allowed to carry unopened alcoholic beverages in their luggage or shopping bags while travelling.

Anyone caught violating the new rules will initially be ordered to leave the station. Repeat offenders may face a permanent ban from stations. 

“Deplorable” airline passenger banned for life

Many frequent flyers would have come across someone like Jay Dalziel at one time or other.

Dalziel went ape shit on a recent flight on leisure airline Jet2 and has been banned for life following a "violent" in-flight incident, news portal Travel Mole reports.

Dalziel, 19, from Motherwell in Scotland, acted in a ‘"deplorable and violent" fashion, causing a Glasgow to Tenerife flight to be diverted to Shannon Airport in Ireland.

He was then taken into custody - missing out on his holiday.

Dalziel displayed "disruptive and aggressive" behaviour shortly after take-off.

It escalated to the point of allegedly physically attacking Jet2.com cabin crew other customers.

After touching down at Shannon Airport, Garda officers boarded the flight and took him into custody.

Video published online captured Garda officers removing a topless man from the plane. He was reportedly seen screaming as he was handcuffed and hauled off the flight.

Jet2 immediately banned him for life.

The airline also plans to take action to recover costs incurred by the diversion, estimated at a five-figure sum.

A standby aircraft and crew were then flown to Shannon Airport to take customers to Tenerife.

Jet2 apologised to customers for the inconvenience.

Phil Ward, MD of Jet2, said: “This is one of the worst cases of disruptive passenger behaviour that we have ever witnessed, and we would like to apologise to all colleagues and customers onboard for what they had to experience.

"It is a disgrace that hardworking customers, families and colleagues should be subjected to such appalling behaviour and we will vigorously pursue Mr Dalziel for all the costs that we incurred as a result of this diversion, as well as banning him for life."

Irish police said: ""Gardaí met the aircraft and arrested the man under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. He is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda station in County Clare. Investigations are ongoing."

Visiting this country? Be very afraid

The US Department of State issues travel advisories for its citizens visiting destinations around the globe.

Its website has several warnings for one particular country that "terrorists have targeted, and could continue to target".

Visitors should "remain vigilant toward their personal security and exercise caution".

They should be "aware that robberies, burglaries, assault, and auto theft are common in larger cities and that foreign visitors in popular tourist areas are targets for pickpockets, purse-snatchers, and petty thieves."

Night-time is particularly dangerous. 

"Be careful when visiting bars or clubs in the entertainment areas of major cities, as “bar brawls” and other assaults sometimes occur. You should watch out for drink spiking when consuming alcohol with unfamiliar people".

Which country are are our trigger happy US "friends and allies" talking about? Australia, of course.

Check out the dangers here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Australia.html

Note: As of March 31, a total of 208 people had been killed and 419 people had been wounded in 125 shootings in the US this year. In Australia there has been one mass killing in 2024, in which seven people died.

Image: Juli Bell, Scop.io 

Tourists warned of the dangers of an island "paradise"

Think the Bahamas and you think idyllic beaches and a laidback island lifestyle.

What you probably don’t expect are murders and gang violence.

But the US State Department recently updated its advisory for American travellers in the Bahamas. 

They are warned to ‘exercise increased caution’ due to rising levels of violent crime, Travel Mole reports.

Perpetrators and victims are mostly locals but State Department officials say ‘burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas."

It urges tourists to take extra care ‘when staying at short-term vacation rentals where private security companies do not have a presence.’

“Gang-on-gang violence has resulted in a high homicide rate,” the advisory said.

High crime areas including Nassau and across New Providence, and Grand Bahama.

The US Embassy in Nassau noted a spate of murders so far this year, which are mostly down to gang violence.

But it said: "The US Embassy is not aware of any US citizens who have been affected."

The tropical island destination saw more than eight million visitors last year

Prime Minister Philip Davis told local news outlet The Tribune that he doesn’t expect the travel warning will impact tourism. 

I think Mr Davis is kidding himself.

Image: Brett Tiagwad, Scop.io

When maniacs strike: Are you safe when flying?

Do you ever wonder why heavy glass bottles are allowed on international flights, but knitting needles, plastic water bottles and nail clippers can be banned and confiscated?

Simple answer. It is all about money - in this case for airport duty free outlets.

It is clear that a heavy Champagne bottle, or magnum of whisky, makes a pretty handy weapon. 

As passengers on the British Airways flight discovered this week.

British media reported that a passenger was stabbed during a violent incident on a Caribbean bound flight from London's Gatwick Airport.

It was reported that a man stormed into aircraft galley area, allegedly smashed a bottle and used it as a weapon during an argument with another passenger.

One man suffered a large wound with lots of blood, according to media reports.

“We’re shocked that anyone would act in this way and are grateful to our highly trained cabin crew and the customers who supported them,” a British Airways spokesperson said.

“We want to assure customers that this behaviour will never be tolerated.”

Which is all well and good.

Except flight crew are not capable of stopping incidents like this. They are fewer in number than they used to be - and a lot of them are not physically capable of ending a brawl.

The plane eventually landed safely and as scheduled at Hewanorra International Airport (above) on the island of Saint Lucia.

The St Lucia Times reported that the alleged assailant was arrested and the incident is currently under investigation. 

How safe do you feel? 

Paris: A tale of two cities

Australians have been officially warned about travel to France, and Paris in particular.

One of the world's most beautiful cities is in crisis. But that comes as no surprise.

In the several years I spent living in Paris, I became used to regular strikes and demonstrations, while the grèves and manifestations were often annoying they were rarely threatening.

This time things are different - a large underclass from the banlieux has had enough of prejudice, racism and victimisation.

As many visitors to Paris will be aware; there are two very different sides to Paris. 

Inside the Peripherique, the ring road that encircles the city, life is good for a well-off, largely white and privileged community.

Outside the Peripherique is different world - a consequence of France's failed colonial policies.

In high-rise apartments in suburbs like Clichy, Bondy and Sarcelles (above), or Lyon Villeurbanne and Vaulx-en-Velin in Lyon, and some northern arrondissements of Marseille, are populated by the children and grandchildren of waves of post-war immigrants from Algeria and Morocco - and increasingly from sub-Saharan Africa.

These often second- and third-generation French people are frequently looked down upon, find it hard to find any work other than menial labour, and are often hassled by the police should they venture outside their suburban near ghettoes to the city.

The latest unrest was sparked by the death of a 17-year-old delivery driver in the suburb of Nanterre - by a police officer who now faces manslaughter (why not murder?) charges.

It lit a powderkeg.

Several people have died or sustained injuries at the hands of French police in recent years - nearly all of them from black or Maghreb backgrounds.

Minority groups and immigrants across France have long felt marginalized and discriminated against by the state - and the police. I have seen a person of North African descent shooed away from an upmarket shop. And young black people stopped and searched by police for no apparent reason.

“These young people rioting have watched their parents, their older siblings be discriminated against time and time again, and they’ve had enough,” Naima Iratni, president of Maison d’Algérie, a Paris-based non-profit that promotes cooperation between youths in France and Algeria, told the Christian Science Monitor newspaper.

“This generation - they’re 14 to 18 years old - is saying: ‘Stop.’ They will not accept it anymore.”

In a country where racism is endemic, and unemployment is rife, the riots are an appeal for more dignity. The chances of success, unfortunately, are slim.

So travellers should certainly be careful where they wander.

The Australian Government's SmartTraveller site is warning: "Exercise a high degree of caution in France due to the threat of terrorism."

It adds: "Be particularly vigilant at night and avoid all demonstrations and areas with significant police activity. Curfews have been introduced in some cities. Public transport may be restricted or cancelled. The situation may change at short notice. Monitor the media and official sources for updates.

"Violent attacks against tourists can occur, especially late at night in tourist areas. Robbery and muggings are common on trains to/from Paris airports. Conceal your valuables. Don't walk in quiet or poorly lit streets at night."

So please be careful out there.

   

The resort paradise that is also a violent crime hotspot

The Mexican resort of Cancun has a global reputation as a beach paradise.

Just recently, however, it has become a dangerous crime hotspot.

Travel Mole reports that police have recently found eight bodies dumped in two different locations in the resort region, believed to be victims of drug cartel violence.

The US State Department has issued a level 2 advisory for Americans, recommending travellers exercise increased caution while in the local Quintana Roo region, due to crime and kidnapping concerns.

The Canadian Government travel website warns "theere are high rates of violent crime, such as homicides, kidnappings, carjacking and assaults, including in popular tourist destinations such as the Mayan Riviera (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos and Tulum), and Acapulco.

"Criminal groups and drug cartels are present in tourist areas. Inter-gang and cartel fighting has taken place in restaurants, hotels and nightclubs frequented by tourists.

"Innocent bystanders have been injured or killed. You may be in the wrong place at the wrong time and become a victim of violent crime."

The Australian Government's Smartraveller website says: "Exercise a high degree of caution in Mexico overall due to high levels of violent crime".

So consider yourself warned.

In Cancun, state authorities have urged people "not to share on social networks false news that only damages the image of Quintana Roo".

Over 100,000 people have been reported missing in Mexico, Travel Mole says.

Five bodies were found in an abandoned building and three in a wooded area outside the resort area.

Earlier this month, Four men were killed in the main resort area after a gang dispute.

Four Americans were also kidnapped and two of them were killed.

Stay away: travel warnings issued about the many dangers of Mexico

The most I have ever felt threatened in Mexico was by the smog in Mexico City that made it very difficult to breathe.

Today there are other dangers facing visitors to Mexico - and Americans are being warned not to travel to their southern neighbour.

The US State Department recently updated a travel advisory for Mexico, with a warning on "kidnapping risk".

It cited an increased risk of crime and kidnapping in some areas.

It added specific Level 4 ‘Do Not Travel’ advisories on the states of Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas over kidnapping threats, Travel Mole reported.

In addition, less severe "reconsider travel" warnings were issued for Baja California, Chihuahua, Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos and Sonora.

“Violent crime - such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery - is widespread and common in Mexico,” the State Department said.

“The government has limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in many areas of Mexico” as it has placed restrictions on travel for government employees due to safety risks.

“US government employees may not travel between cities after dark, may not hail taxis on the street, and must rely on dispatched vehicles, including app-based services like Uber, and regulated taxi stands,” the advisory said.

“Transnational criminal organizations compete in the border area to establish narco-trafficking and human smuggling routes,” the State Department added.

“Most homicides appeared to be targeted; however, criminal organization assassinations and territorial disputes can result in bystanders being injured or killed, “which has led to tourist injuries and deaths in resorts."

The Australian SmartTraveller advice is equally blunt, saying: "We now advise you exercise a high degree of caution due to high levels of violent crime."

It also advises: "Avoid protests and large public gatherings. These can become violent. It's also against the law for foreigners to participate in political activity."

Other advice: "Mexico has a high risk of violent crime, such as murder, armed robbery, sexual assault and kidnapping. Don't travel at night outside major cities. Kidnapping and extortion are serious risks. Don't draw attention to your money or business affairs. Only use ATMs in public spaces and during daytime. Drug-related violence is widespread. Stop at all roadblocks or you risk being killed."

You can just imagine the apoplectic reaction of Mexican tourism industry officials.