Alcohol revisited

High street Penge has only four public houses on it entire length.
But there are at least ten shops selling beer etc. one of which is open 24/7.

In my youth there were still four pubs, and I believe off sales also only available from these pubs. So beer etc. could only be bought 10:30 – 2:30 and 5:30 - 10:30 except Sunday 12:00 – 2:00 and 7:00 – 10:30.

If you were approaching drunkenness a polite landlord would quietly admonish with an “I think you’ve had enough Les”. As he knew he could loose his license if he carried on serving.
A few pubs would serve afters to a select well behaved clientèle.

Mum always knew, that as we would all be back home by 2:30, she could time Sunday lunch accordingly.

Nowadays with six cans for £5, a bottle of Vodka for less than £10, around 30p a shot. Alco pops that taste like fruit juice. As it only takes one of a group, to be able to make the purchase, instead of all having to pass the landlords’ scrutiny for entrance.
Too many young people now start their initiation to drinking out side the pub, on the cheap, with little or no supervision or restrictions.
With a I can drink more than you attitude.
Penge is now a “public alcohol-free zone”

Seezya Les