《中英對照讀新聞》Londoners enjoy new law allowing 24-hour alcohol sales 倫敦人慶祝允許24小時賣酒的新法律

◎ 羅彥傑

Like other London residents, Chantal Faraut celebrated late Thursday night by having a few drinks in one of the many pubs in England that no longer has to close at 11 p.m.

由於英格蘭酒館不再需要於晚間1 1時打烊，仙塔兒．法勞特週四深夜就像倫敦其他居民一樣，在其中一間酒館喝了一些酒以示慶祝。

As far as she's concerned, that early closing time never suited an international city like London. So she welcomes the fact that England and Wales have just relaxed their drinking laws, allowing many pubs to stay open later, some for 24 hours.

對她而言，酒館早早打烊，根本不適合像倫敦這樣的國際大城市。所以她樂見英格蘭與威爾斯剛放寬有關飲酒的法令，讓許多酒館可以開到更晚，有些還24小時營業。

"In principle, it's a great idea" said Faraut, 24,as she and her friend enjoyed a few glasses of red wine at the Kings Head, a traditional, smoke-filled pub in central London, where many people sat at wooden tables, knocking back pints of beer and other drinks.

「原則上，這是個好主意，」24歲的法勞特說，並且正和朋友在倫敦市中心一間傳統的、煙霧瀰漫的酒館內小酌紅酒，這裡有許多人坐在木質餐桌前，大口大口乾掉啤酒與其他各種酒類飲料。

But she is worried about what may happen during the extended drinking hours in towns and cities outside central London, where binge drinking can be a problem among young people.

但她也擔心在倫敦市區以外的各鄉鎮與城市，在酒館延長營業的時間會發生什麼狀況，這些地方可能會出現年輕人喝酒鬧事的問題。

新聞辭典

as far as ~ be concerned： 片語，就~而言。例句︰As far as I am concerned, you can do waht you like.（就我而言，你想怎樣就怎樣。）

in principle：原則上、基本上。例句︰We agree in principle but we dislike your methods.（我們原則上同意，但我們不喜歡你的方法。）

knock back： 片語，一下子喝下、吃掉（英式用法）。例句︰He knocked back four pints of beer.（他一口氣喝光四品脫的啤酒。）

binge drinking： 名詞，指飲酒作樂。例句︰The police warned that our nation's binge drinking culture was spiraling out of control.（警方警告，我國飲酒嬉鬧的文化正逐漸失控。）