Conrad, the anti-spree brigade probably sprang up in reaction to the general perception of Geordies in the media. Am I right you're based in USA? If so you probably won't yet have sampled the "delights" of Newcastle-based cop show, "55 degrees North". It's quite decent in places, except for its portrayal of the locals (the Geordies all seem to be drunken line-dancers, ignorant racists or joyriders). Such assumptions mean you can only go one of two ways - you can try to show the North Easterners' more sensitive side (like Jez Lowe) or push the partying to its utmost limits and turn it to good celebratory use (Priests). Right now, I'm trying to decide whether most stuff from the North East oscillates between these two extremes (like Joe Wilson, going all temperance in later life) - we're a funny lot, aren't we?