K

E S L L E S S O N P L A N DECEMBER 2007

Spotting a Drunk
Language Function: discussing issues; reading comprehension, describing a drunk person

Vocabulary/Topic: alcohol drinking; police work

Vocabulary Focus: ways of walking

S T U D E N T W O R K S H E E T UPPER - INTERMEDIATE

focus on talking: discussion

activity 1. In pairs, ask and answer the questions below.
• What do people do when they are drunk? How would you
recognize that somebody consumed too much alcohol?

• Do you believe one can get drunk in style?

• To what extent is getting drunk accepted in your country?

• Is binge drinking common among young people in your

country?

focus on reading: comprehension

activity 2. Read the article on page 2 and list all the signs of drunkenness mentioned in
the text.
................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................

www.english-4u.com - photocopiable
1
Spotting a Drunk UPPER - INTERMEDIATE
Police given
manual on
how to spot
a drunk
By Graham Tibbetts
It may not make it on to the
best-seller list this Christmas but
a Government manual offering
advice on how to tell if someone
is drunk could prove one of the
more humorous offerings of the
festive season.
From looking out for staggering
or "dishevelled" pub-goers to
listening for "rambling
conversation" and offensive
language, the Home Office
publication covers it all in minute
detail. The guide is being issued
to thousands of police officers
who will work undercover in pubs
and clubs this Christmas to catch
www.english-4u.com - photocopiable
bar staff who sell alcohol to
inebriated customers.
Other tell-tale signs of
drunkenness, according to the
guide, include being "careless
with money", exhibiting
inappropriate sexual behaviour,
offensive language, bumping into
furniture, spilling drinks and
drinking quickly or competitively,
"i.e down in one". Drunkenness
may also cause a loss of train of
thought, difficulty in paying
attention, "not understanding
what is said", glassy eyes or lack
of focus.
But the manual was condemned
yesterday as "absolute
nonsense" by the pub trade,
which called on the Government
to focus on the supermarkets
that sell cheap alcohol.
A spokesman for the Licensed
Victuallers' Association said: "It
seems ridiculous that a trained
police officer needs help in
identifying someone who is
drunk. If you apply all these
guidelines in the average pub
any customer could be classified
as drunk."
The guide is being issued to 90
police teams across the country
taking part in the pre-Christmas
Responsible Sales of Alcohol
Campaign, which started last
night and will run until Christmas
Eve.
Undercover officers will mingle in
pubs and issue £80 fixed
penalties to staff who
''knowingly" sell alcohol to
someone who is drunk. Selling to
a drunk customer is an offence
under the Licensing Act but
confusion over what defines
2
''drunk" has engulfed the pub
trade - until now.
A spokesman for the Home
Office confirmed that undercover
police officers are being taught
how to spot a drunkard.
He said: ''As part of the
Responsible Sales of Alcohol
Campaign, plain clothes police
officers have been issued
guidelines on monitoring the
sale of alcohol to intoxicated
individuals. The Home Office
does not make a secret of the
guidelines it issues to police,
which are aimed at protecting
the public and staff working in
licensed premises."
Yesterday pub landlords ridiculed
the police guide.
David Wine, the licensee at the
Six Bells in Felsham, Suffolk,
said: "This is an absolute
nonsense. So what if someone is
dishevelled?
''Does that mean Bob Geldof will
not be able to get served in
pubs? They should be targeting
supermarkets rather than the
pub trade." Details of the Home
Office drunk guide were leaked
to pub trade journal The
Publican.
Caroline Nodder, the editor, said:
"Drunkenness is not something
that can be measured on a
scale.
"It is so subjective, so vague
and open to misinterpretation as
to be almost entirely useless.
And surely these criteria would
not stand up in court anyway."
source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Spotting a Drunk UPPER - INTERMEDIATE

activity 3. Read the text on Page 2 again and decide whether the following statements
are true or false.

1. The manual on how to spot a drunk is bought as a Christmas present.

2. The manual will be used by plain clothes policemen trying to catch bar
staff who sell alcohol to drunk.
3. Pub owners support the idea because it will help them to identify
drunks.
4. Drunk people spotted by undercover policemen will be fined £80
5. According to Caroline Nodder, drunkenness cannot be objectively
measured.

activity 4. Answer these questions.

1. Who, according to the representatives of the pub trade, should the

Government focus their attention on in order to tackle the problem of alcohol overuse?
2. Why, according to David Wine, could Bob Geldof have problems getting served in a pub if the
guidelines are followed?

word focus
ways of walking
stagger - to walk with weak unsteady steps, as if about to fall
stumble - to walk or move in an unsteady way
hobble - to walk with difficulty, especially because your feet or legs hurt
hop - to move by jumping on one foot
clamber - to climb or move with difficulty or a lot of effort, using your hands and feet
crawl - to move on your hands and knees, with your body close to the ground
tiptoe - to walk using the front parts of your feet only, so that other people cannot hear you
creep - to move slowly, quietly and carefully, because you do not want to be seen or heard

www.english-4u.com - photocopiable 3
Spotting a Drunk UPPER -INTERMEDIATE

focus on vocabulary
activity 5. Write words and expressions activity 6. Here’s the list of drunkenness
for definitions. All the words and phrases signs used by British police. Can you
appear in the article on page 2. assign each of them to one of four
categories presented in the manual?
1. a book that tells you how to do or operate
something A) a noticeable change of behaviour
............................................................................ B) a lack of judgement
C) clumsiness & loss of coordination
2. very untidy D) appearance
............................................................................ • annoying other persons, employees, etc
3. drunk (formal) • becoming argumentative
• becoming bad tempered, aggressive
............................................................................ • becoming incoherent
• becoming loud, boisterous or disorderly
4. the connected series of thoughts that are in
• becoming physically violent
your head at a particular time • being careless with money
............................................................................ • being unkempt
• bumping into furniture
5. to move among people and talk to them, • decreased alertness
especially at a social event • difficulty in paying attention
• difficulty in picking up change
............................................................................ • difficulty with walking
• drinking quickly or competitively
6. to affect somebody/something very strongly
• drowsiness, dozing or sleeping
............................................................................ • exhibiting inappropriate sexual behaviour
• falling down
7. under the influence of alcohol or drugs • fumbling for cigarettes or other items
............................................................................ • glassy eyes
• lack of focus
8. the building and land near to it that a • lack of judgement
business owns or uses • looking dishevelled
• loss of train of thought
............................................................................ • not understanding what is said
9. a man who owns or manages a pub • rambling conversation
• slurring, or making mistakes in speech
............................................................................ • spilling drinks
10. having a strong interest in death • staggering
• swaying
........................................................................... • using offensive language

www.english-4u.com - photocopiable 4