A drunk tank is a jail cell or separate facility accommodating people who are intoxicated, especially with alcohol. Some of these facilities are mobile, and are colloquially known as a "booze bus".
Traditionally, and in some jurisdictions currently, the circumstances of drunk-tank occupants may vary widely, as to whether in fact intoxicated, whether willingly there, whether isolated to protect them from others, confined to protect others from them, or simply permitted to find shelter, and whether legally under arrest, charged with an offense, or neither. Those in need of more long-term treatment may be referred to a rehabilitation center.
Video Drunk tank
Europe
In some countries of Europe, such modern institutions are known by names that may be translated as "sobering-up station" or similar.
Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic the name is Protialkoholní záchytná stanice, colloquially Záchytka. The first such institution in Czechoslovakia was opened in 1951 by psychiatrist Jaroslav Skála; its first patient was a Russian naval engineer. During its first 30 years of service, Prague's sobering-up station treated over 180,000 people. Other facilities in the country treated over 1,000,000 people. During its peak in Czechoslovakia, there were over 63 such institutions.
Estonia
In Estonia, kainestusmaja (sobering up house) exist in the biggest cities. Most of the clients there are brought forcefully by police to sober up if a person poses a threat to the public or themselves. One will not be released until sober (up to 24 hours).
Poland
In Poland a sobering-up chamber (Izba wytrze?wie?) exists in bigger cities. As of 2013, there were 52 in Poland, and each year they host about 300,000 people. Being drunk by itself is not an offence, but police may place a person in a drunk tank if they're found wandering on roads, during harsh weather etc. through they will often be returned to their houses; many people taken to the drunk tanks are declared violent and a danger for others.
Sobering-up chambers can charge fees just like hotels, and they often chose the most expensive price allowed by law, which is why they are often called "the most expensive hotel in town".
Russia
Such institutions, known in Russian as ????????????, Vytrezvitel, were introduced in 1904 by Archangelskiy Fedor Sergeevich in Tula, Russia. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia created a medal to commemorate the 70th anniversary.
Sweden
In Sweden the sobering-up units are located at police stations around the country. Colloquially known as "fyllecell" or drunk cell, the cell is for holding people who are too intoxicated to take care of themselves or when their intoxication poses a danger to themselves or other people. Being drunk in public is not an offense in Sweden and does not lead to any charges, but repeat "offenders" can have their driver's license revoked.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the idea of privately run drunk tanks (or "welfare centres"), separate from police stations and funded by the penalties issued against those held there, was discussed in 2013 and gained support from the Association of Chief Police Officers. Mobile drunk tanks, also known as "booze buses", and officially as "alcohol recovery centres", have since been introduced in some cities (Bristol being the first to do so). Newcastle calls its bus a "safe haven van" and parks it next to St John Ambulance.
Maps Drunk tank
See also
- Public intoxication
- Sobriety checkpoint
- Short-term effects of alcohol consumption
References
External links
- History of sobering-up stations (in Czech)
Source of article : Wikipedia
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