It was when the MP for Wigan (maccarthy???) got pissed up in the Rugby club (st pats I think, its a long time ago and I have slept and alcohol has passed my lips since)and was ejected by the doormen that he got all all upperty and introduced the law to parliament
Ian McCartney MP was the small tool that introduced the law, one of his better quotes was the one where he stated “6 large men followed him home in a small family car” (still trying to work out how you get 6 not so large men into a ford escort :lol:)One of my memories of him was him getting hassle in a curry house, I was there as well, I offered to help calm the situation, he agreed, so I chucked him out and his party and got him a taxi. The situation improved no end after that.
To be truthful about licensing, it was needed, the doormen at the time were just huge chaps that could fight, but, the clients didn’t hold back either, so the huge chaps were needed, especially in a rugby town like Wigan.
I worked before licensing and after, it didn’t root out any of the idiot doormen, just made us accountable and gave us all visible names and made us easier targets.
Eventually the licensing scheme went nationwide but you still had known gangster types running doors in Manchester and Liverpool, and they were licensed, but the course did give us a better idea legally and we got a little more respect from the police in some towns(not Wigan)
It was a hard job but it paid the bills for over 10 years.. plus the bride selling and endless shagging was great, that and we got to beat up small drunk people 😆