to think chavy, tacky hen parties should SOD off [Edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

[CannoninD]

I’m fed up.
I’ve lived in my beautiful, respectful and historic city my entire life .... but over the last year it’s been invaded by GOD AWFUL hen parties!

20+ strong groups of horrifically common (referring to behaviour not social class) women who inflict their horrific behaviour on everybody within reach.

They’re EVERYWHERE and I know it’s not just me as there are sunbstantial concerns being raised by residents all over the city.

I counted 23 large groups this weekend (I only walked into the (small ish) city centre on Saturday morning and witnessed the following behaviour-

• Loud swearing (F and C word) right in front of/across young families and children just trying to enjoy a day out.
• Shop doors slammed in elderly shoppers faces (too busy pratting around to pay any attention).
• Stock being damaged by pratting about (and then hidden) to avoid paying.
• Horrifically vulgar and inappropriate content being loudly discussed in family areas (a garden/park area) to the point that families got up and left.
• Completely inappropriate Lingerie being worn in the street (before 2pm).
• Vomiting in the street! Whilst being jeered by the rest of the group.

Personally I would rather bleach out my own eyes than go on a hen do like this- but honestly at what point do we just call the police on these ridiculous idiots inflicting such unreasonable behaviour on families and regular people? What’s worse is, I bet back home they’re perfectly normal women. They just all get together and come away from home and behave like total arseholes!

Being in a large group and celebrating an event- does not give you a hall pass to behave like scum. 😡

Hadn't even read through and realized that OP was talking about York. It is so sad.

I’ve sent a copy of this thread to Yorkmix. I hope that’s ok with everyone.

Can i just throw in that is isn't the exclusive behaviour of British stags/hens. We were lucky enough to be on what I assume was partaaay floor of Caesars in Vegas. The American hens gave the UK ones you're describing a proper run for their money and won hands down. The men were steaming and just fell down

I agree with Seneca. Vegas is considered an anomoly in the US - what happens in vegas stays in vegas is a thing. And this was happening on a floor of a hotel. Not in the centre of a town in the middle of the day. That is the essential difference. No one goes to a floor of a hotel in Vegas with their children expecting to have a normal Saturday afternoon experience. But apparently, if you are in York and go out with your children on a Saturday afternoon you can et a full on worse than vegas drunken hotel floor experience for them as you go about your business.

If drunk and disorderly people (that is what the OP is describing) rocked up to small, historic, cutsie towns (and we have loads of them) where I live in the US, the police would just go out bring them in, tell them to cop themselves on, maybe charge them with drunk and disorderly. It is incredible that people in lovely cities like York (was there - loved it) should put up with this.

I can't say why roving bands of otherwise normal women and men turn into anti-social animals on hen/stag/squaddie/race days out (well I can - it is drink, basically - none of this happens if they are sober). But I can say that the reason they get away with this is lack of policing - meaning lack of funding for police. If you live in a town, you should expect a policeperson to rock up fairly fast if a drunk man or woman is shitting in a doorway. That is how a good town/city would work (and how my US city would work). The problem to me seems to be lack of funding of the police.

That's interesting about Dublin mathanxiety a groundswell of public disgust turned the tide. Interesting that they worked out that these groups actually don't spend that much money - so it wouldn't be much of a loss to these towns and cities if there was an all out ban on hen and stags.

I completely agree with you radiator ! There must be absolutely loads of us who are sick of people thinking it's OK to behave like this and get away with it. We should form a some kind of group - I see the York street angels linked above but that seems to be a religious group more focused on reaching out to people in need, I don't know how receptive big groups of people egging each other on to behave as disgustingly as possible would be to that unfortunately.

@Pinkarsedfly - Good idea.

WhipMaWhopMa at the risk of turning all ‘Down With This Sort Of Thing’ something has to be done.

Businesses are closing and the town is looking horrible. This is York, fgs. It shouldn’t be happening.

*So what exactly is “common” behaviour meant to mean if not related to class? Judge much?

To be fair based on what the OP describes - yeah I'd be judging too!

I don't think Americans have nearly the appetite for alcohol that Brits do.

When I was going to bachelorette parties in the 90s US, there was no one amongst us who was really an expert drinker. I would imagine that Las Vegas attracts a bolder than average bachelorette.

I was born in Hull and brought up on a council estate by a tradesman father and a factory worker mother.

You don’t get more working class than my family.

My mother would describe this behaviour as ‘common as muck’ and she’d be right.

There’s a difference between ‘working class’ and ‘rough as a badger’s arse’.

There’s a difference between ‘working class’ and ‘rough as a badger’s arse’.
I have heard that expression in a while!

I agree though. It's interesting how many people from working class backgrounds can clearly tell the difference between scruffy/common behaviour and being working class. I wonder how many people clutching their pearls over how classist it is are actually in the comfortably lifelong middle classes

There was an earlier comment about ‘common’ behaviour - which included the actual definition and it was very apt.

• lack of manners

-impolite -inappropriate behaviour

Nothing to do with social class. I’m from a WC background and lots of WC people are definitely not ‘common’ in their manners and behaviour.

I’m overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people who also perceive York this way and it’s made me seriously consider moving as I fully believe that things will get worse

I have to say those behaviours make me weary to be in York in a Saturday afternoon, or early evening (I wouldnt be in the centre around Micklegate in the evening). I actually AVOID it because of that sort if mayhem.
I also avoid it because I would usuallly take the train back home and sais train is a nightmare every single time.
I am careful not come back home ‘too late’ (after 4.30~5.00pm) with my dcs too.

Basically, I’ve had to modify and change my behaviour because of those groups. It’s crap.

Younger Americans tend to drink heavily in university but not once they graduate, and not in their own home towns except on St Patrick's Day when there is a huge amount of drinking and debauchery in many major cities. Even so, parades and associated public drinking and lawlessness get clamped down on.
www.timeout.com/chicago/things-to-do/chicago-sobers-up-st-patricks-day
the fine for tippling on the public way or taking a leak outdoors (increased from) $100–$500 to $500–$1,000

Agree 100% with Pallisers - the problem is lack of policing.

There is an ad campaign for Vegas - 'What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas' - that encourages a certain amount of wildness and cutting loose, but Vegas is really the only city in the US that panders to the sort of people who would take that invitation seriously.

Rather than moving OP, why don’t you try to make some changes happen in your beautiful city? Make some noise about this

Is it time for a picket line?

Because it’s not her job. People are elected and paid to control the city she lives in, and she has a right to expect that they do just that.

Accountability has to be laid at the right doors. If you’re job entails looking after the city of York bloody do it or lose it.

If you’re a visitor obey and respect the law or lose your right to enjoy it.

If you’re a business that profits from groups that denigrate the City you should turn away rather than profit or face punitive taxes to contribute towards policing and clean up.

If you’re the Press you should be reporting on it.

Radiator when my father was younger he would challenge grim behaviour which was brave and honourable but got us into some awful situations! We were on a coach once (so trapped it was on our first and only ever package holiday usually camped) when he politely asked a drunk group of older men not to swear in front of his daughters. Oh my god. He ended up in a fight with them in the aisle ended only by my the 12 year old sister joining in and having hysterics at which they backed off. We got off the coach in a dark silent car park and just laughed it was so awful. Dad never challenged anyone again

Radiator when my father was younger he would challenge grim behaviour which was brave and honourable but got us into some awful situations! We were on a coach once (so trapped it was on our first and only ever package holiday usually camped) when he politely asked a drunk group of older men not to swear in front of his daughters. Oh my god. He ended up in a fight with them in the aisle ended only by my the 12 year old sister joining in and having hysterics at which they backed off. We got off the coach in a dark silent car park and just laughed it was so awful. Dad never challenged anyone again

I love your dad.

It’s everyone’s job, people who live in York, people who raise children in York. They should make some noise about this

*Because it’s not her job. People are elected and paid to control the city she lives in, and she has a right to expect that they do just that.

Accountability has to be laid at the right doors. If you’re job entails looking after the city of York bloody do it or lose it.

If you’re a visitor obey and respect the law or lose your right to enjoy it.

If you’re a business that profits from groups that denigrate the City you should turn away rather than profit or face punitive taxes to contribute towards policing and clean up.

If you’re the Press you should be reporting on it.*

Yes. All of this.

Drinking isn't legal in the US until 21 and they don't have the 'get pissed to look cool' culture we have. My 16 year old son was having a few beers at my sister's wedding years ago and my Canadian cousins were totally horrified. He wasn't drunk or anything, but it just isn't done over there, which is a good thing.

Sorry - I was quoting TSSDNCOP upthread. Font fail.

In fact is any culture as loutish as ours really? I would leave the country if I could. It's getting worse and worse (pearl clutching).

So because the authorities in York aren’t doing their job, families should just move out?

Rather than moving OP, why don’t you try to make some changes happen in your beautiful city?
If anything the noise should be made by people in general by not accepting that sort of behaviour as OK.
Looks of disapproval, comments about parties being inconsiderate when talking with friends etc etc (aka social pressure) can have much more effect than any policing.