To think you can't ban food on trains?

[poshme]

In today's times (sorry rubbish at links) there's an article saying the outgoing chief medical officer wants to ban food on trains unless for medical reasons.
AIBU to think this is completely stupid & unworkable?
Apparently it's because we're snacking too much & too many children are obese.

I regularly catch trains with my kids- usually a 3-4 hr journey. Invariably it's a meal time, and part of passing the time is eating a packed meal. Yes- it's not the healthiest meal in the world & includes crisps & chocolate, but as part of a normal diet it's fine.

My kids are not overweight. In fact they're generally underweight.

If this is implemented they're never be able to enforce it surely?

[Pukkatea]

They ban alcohol on the underground and it's regularly flaunted. Noone cares.

Total nannying. What if you're on a 5-6 hour train journey, what if you have medical needs, what if you're just a bloody grown up who wants a snack?

[leckford]

Takeaways should be banned however, most are totally rubbish food and the containers are thrown out of cars and add to pollution in the countryside

[longearedbat]

I can't see that it's workable, but on the other hand, I would be overjoyed if smelly fast food was banned - the stench of a burger and fries in a carriage is nauseating.

[Purplequalitystreet]

I saw this. It's ridiculous. Train journeys can be 6-7 hours long. What are people supposed to do? By all means, put on healthier options in the stations/on the food trolley, but you can't ban eating entirely!

[poshme]

I agree that banning hot smelly food is fine! But policing it very difficult.

[Vinorosso74]

It's ridiculous. You can't ban food on public transport! People will still stuff their faces in their own cars.
However, I hate getting on public transport where people have left their food rubbish behind.

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

I see it much like the alcohol ban- people will ignore it!

However I do think something has to be done about the snack culture in the UK, we are extreme snackers! I support trying to change that mentality

[Babdoc]

If you’re on the through train from Plymouth to Aberdeen, it’s eleven and a half hours journey time.
Are the government really suggesting you starve kids for that long? And just imagine the behaviour and loud wailing from them if you did!

[CherryPavlova]

They should because it’s so antisocial and adds to constantly eating culture.
They won’t because they make vast profits and the station food outlets are huge income generators.

[Yurtle]

I think it was local public transport. Not all. Still basically uninforcable I’d imagine though.

[GingersAreLush]

YANBU my children would drive me and everyone else mad if they couldn’t have something to eat when I take them a long train journey. Sounds like a badly thought out idea by someone chatting bollocks.

[AmIThough]

I think it's on every news channel.
In theory it makes sense - smelly foods, obesity, allergies, litter.

In reality, I think if you're going on a 3-4 hour journey, it's workable for most people.
Just have late/early meals.
However surely some people would have to be medically exempt from the ruling, like diabetics.

Also not sure how you'd police it.

[Ponoka7]

It wasn't just on trains, it was on buses as well.

I'd like these people to do a normal day on public transport.

There's been days when I've left the house of a morning and not got back until about 10, when i was a carer to my Mum, babysitting and fitting the gym in.

I often wonder if these people have any idea how long it takes to get around anywhere on buses.

When i was growing up, there were enough schools within easy travelling distance of where people lived. Child care would be a local Mum or older Sister, who we were all dropped off with and walked to school.

Extra curriculum was very local dance classes, or Brownies, so no ferrying around.
This will push people into car use.

They are so out of touch will most people's lives and the real cause of obesity, relative poverty.

[Littletabbyocelot]

It would be counter productive on climate change. Who is going to choose to leave the car behind and make a long journey by train if they can't eat for 4/5 hours at a time.

[poshme]

Yurtle how will they define 'local'? The trains I catch out of London start off as 'local' as lots of commuters do the first part of the journey. Then the train continues on.

Cherry really? You'd be happy on a long train journey with your kids at a meal time with no food at all? Let's say you catch a 1030train arriving at 2. Would you really eat your lunch before or after the journey?

[shadesofgreytoo]

I think it's unrealistic.

People shouldn't litter though.

[MrMeSeeks]

That article is ridiculous, its nannying people.
Some people can have takeaways without indulging on them everyday, why spoil it for all?
Banning food on transport, what about long Distances?
Banning multiple offers in shops is simple going to make it harder for people on poorer incomes

[MrMeSeeks]

Simply*

[poshme]

Amithough so you say 'eat early or late'
I collect kids from school at 4, and go straight to train. 3-4 hour journey. Do you really expect them to eat nothing until 8pm after a full day at school?
I actually don't think that's healthy at all.

[dottiedodah]

Dame Sally Davies probably means well ,but comes across as being incredibly Nannying ,and banning food on public transport is idiotic an unworkable IMO .Wasnt this the lady who advised everyone to get off the bus a stop or two early ,and walk the rest of the way?(While spending 5k a year catching Taxis ! She is another one who preaches Dont do as I do do as I tell you !.On a recent day out in London ,we ate our sandwiches /crisps and many others did the same ! After a long but lovely day at The Tower Of London, my friend and I were exhausted and only booked for a scheduled train journey .As far as Child Obesity goes there are many reasons for this but banning eating on Public Transport is unlikely to change very much!

[Chouetted]

I'm about to embark on a six hour train journey. Shockingly, I plan to consume both breakfast and lunch along the way, because not eating makes me grumpy.

Silly idea.

[Tonnerre]

On the report I heard, she only wanted eating to be banned on local trains. So it wouldn't apply to your 3-4 hour journeys.

[BarkandCheese]

It’s totally unenforceable. Can you imagine a bus driver pulling over and announcing “until the lady three rows back in the green jumper puts down the Kitkat we won’t be going anywhere” ? It’s not going to happen.

[dottiedodah]

Ate sandwiches/crisps on the train I mean!