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France’s notorious riot police, the CRS, are up in arms - after bosses ruled they could no longer enjoy a quarter litre of wine with their lunch.
The row broke out after pictures were published showing officers enjoying a drink with their midday meal while out policing a demonstration.
CRS boss Hubert Weigel on Monday ordered that “the little quarter litre of wine taken with a meal while on duty” was henceforth banned. Their right to a “beer or a quarter litre of wine” with their meal was confirmed by a directive signed in 1989.
The CRS’s trade union said the new ban was based on an “exaggeration”.
Union representative Didier Mangione told reporters the pictures had “upset the management of the CRS far more than public opinion.”
He added: “Decisions like these should be based on studies of the actual negative effects [of a small amount of alcohol]. There are none.
“This ban should be withdrawn, especially if the drink is consumed with a meal away from the public eye.”
The French “Code de Travail” (work code) says “consumption of alcoholic drinks with meals” should not be proscribed where this consumption is not prejudicial to public safety or that of the worker.
The CRS (Compangies Républicaines de Sécurite) are a controversial arm of the police force, notorious for their strong arm tactics against protesters and sometimes even schoolchildren. They have often been accused of racism and racial profiling.
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Comments (10)
Would you like some cheese with that whine?
I think this story is great. So typical, french people rioting. More ironically, the CRS officers.
It is just difficult to understand, why would they ban a little amount of wine? I think the police have a very high toleration of alcohol and can handle it. It's just completely un-French.
Keep it the way it used to be since 1989, that's the culture that millions fantasize about, that makes them French!
I think as long as it does
I think as long as it does not exceed a quarter liter is ok, but speed and cocain are not ok.
Policemans Tipple
Whilst I do have some small amount of sympathy for these French Police Officers and their grievance about the lunchtime tipple being stopped, after as it has been pointed out it has been tradition for a tipple with ones lunch. I am a firm believer that persons such as the Police should be beyond reproach.
After all who want's to dealt with by an officer who smells of drink [regardless of how small an amount is consumed].
So come one Mr/Ms Policeman lead by example - don't put yourselves into a situation where someone could quite correctly point the finger back in your own direction. Get real - Get wise.
Police drinking
This ban just smacks of big brother. If you ban policeman from having a couple of glasses of wine with their lunch, then surely you should ban all public service workers. This would lead to a national strike. Can adults not be left to make their own decisions, rather than be controlled by a government.
Police drinking
This ban just smacks of big brother. If you ban policeman from having a couple of glasses of wine with their lunch, then surely you should ban all public service workers. This would lead to a national strike. Can adults not be left to make their own decisions, rather than be controlled by a government.
I'm not bothered by
I'm not bothered by restricting alcohol consumption to all public employees. I don't want the local police officer to have alcohol in their system while working, just like I don't want a bus driver, train driver, or airline pilot to consume even the legal amount of alcohol while working.
Religious Anti-France-Groups.
To enjoy a little glass of wine is a typical french (and italian) habit!
It belongs to France like the Eiffeltower to Paris!
I expect that there are once more "religious Halal"-Groups behind this new destructive Anti-France-Campaign!
A votre santé!
The CRS is whining
These men sit in vans all day and get paid for it. Does it make any difference if they have a bottle of wine, it still doesn't effect their ability to beat up people who are possibly drunk and just sitting around.
Wine
from what I read about these guys I like em already.. :) let em have their wine...
Sure
I'm completely convinced that there's absolutely no harm in having Policemen with more alcohol in their blood than is allowed to drive a car. I cannot possibly see how that could go wrong.
Above is sarcasm.
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