I must say, adding to Ard Mhacha's comments, I was in Stuttgart some years ago and experienced quite an interesting thing. There were dozens of young men staggering around the town, blind drunk. Appararantly they were the latest release from conscription in the army. They were all wearing tattered white shirts with writing all over them - messages from friends apparartly, and were all chanting and singing very loudly in the bars and squares of the town.

Funny thing was that every time they encountered anyone else at close quarters they became very calm and polite. I saw then kissing the hands of old ladies and buying beers for elderly men in the bars. When I came across a group of about 20 wandering in the opposite direction from me in the main square they all parted and let me through with a smile and a wave. I asked a couple that came and sat with me in the next bar I was in what it was all about and they said it was a regular event that they looked forward to.

Far cry from the idiots that stalk my home town. The local council try to contol them by banning pavement drinking and stopping glass vessels in bars. Wonder why the bars in Stuttgart are OK with outside tables and proper glasses but those in Manchester are not?

Beyond me but, even though I am generaly proud to be English, I will certainly not become an appologist or excuse maker for the behaviour of English yobs.

DtG