I was on my way back to London by train this morning when three drunk teenage boys sitting near me started drinking and singing loudly. As they got up to get off the train, they dropped a beer bottle and it splashed all over my clothes. Luckily, none of the broken glass got into my eyes. I tried to hold back my tears as people started staring us and two kind strangers assisted me to move to other chair. The lovely gentlemen talked to the boys while the kind lady took me to another seat and checked on me and explained to me how to report the incident.

I am working as an overseas nurse in the country,I love working and living here, people I met are really nice to me and kind, but one of my fear is encountering this kind of situation especially with teenagers here. I could not hold back my tears as I am walking to meet my friend and her kids, my trousers and hair are wet and I smelled beer.
To the lady with a bike who got off in Clapham Junction, thank you so much for checking that I am okay, i appreciate your kindness. Take care everyone.

by stellar0021

44 comments

  1. I donā€™t understand why youā€™re so upset about a dropped bottle. Was it an accident or not? How would it get in your eyes?

  4. Sounds like they were just some kids having fun who made an innocent mistake. Annoying, sure, but nothing to be frightened of or make a huge deal over. It’s probably healthier psychologically to let this kind of thing go.

    Edit: I think people might be misunderstanding the tone. I’m not saying “Boys will be boys” or that inconveniencing other people is innocent fun. The mistake itself was not maliciously intended and no one was actually hurt. There is actual malicious behaviour out there which is worth addressing. But I don’t see how making what ended up just being some spilled beer into a larger issue would help anyone.

  5. What a hero you are. Keep smiling. As a former teenage boy, I apologise on their behalf ā˜¹ļø

  6. Very obviously a shit situation but I think you should also work on your resilience. Teenagers exist the world over and these kind of accidents just happen. You canā€™t crumble into tears or live your life in worry over small things.

  8. Sounds like they just had an accident because they were probably inebriated, definitely annoying still

  9. Staggering lack of empathy over hereā€¦ none of you would like it if some drunken pricks (which people are coddling for some reason, even though their behaviour is probably unacceptable in OPā€™s country, which explains the fear) spilled a load of beer over you on your morning commute. Some people are just so unnecessarily rude behind the protection of a screen, I donā€™t get it. Youā€™ve obviously had a rough day even though it was an accident. Thanks for supporting our NHS and I hope youā€™re feeling better now.

  13. I’d have probably have flipped my lid being covered in stinking beer that early in the morning.

    You should remind yourself that you didn’t overreact or hit the roof like I or many people would have so pat yourself on the back instead of taking it too negatively.

  14. Iā€™m sorry this happened to you.

    I know this isnā€™t normal behaviour in other countries, but unfortunately Britain thinks anything goes if youā€™re drunk. Itā€™s truly bizarre and I am sorry you experienced this.

    Ignore the troglodytes and carry on with your day. Remember that you can actually leave this stupid country, unlike the thugs and cretins defending them.

  15. To all the people posting here with excuses for the teenagers: hope you donā€™t have kids.

    Thatā€™s all.

  18. Are people happy to be around drunk teenagers chucking beer on them?
    What dumb position to take!

    The NHS and our country needs nurses not more ASBO kids!

  19. There are so many wonderful things about England but you can see in much of this comments section that the pervasive attitude towards drinking is not really one of them. Its completely fine to feel upset at having glass broken next to you and being soaked in alcohol on your way to see your friend’s children. I hope today gets better for you, those teenagers get a week long hangover, and that you can get a change of clothes soon.

  21. I mean, it’s a crappy thing, but if you were scared about glass getting in your eyes from a bottle breaking, needed help to move to a different seat, and felt the need to post to reddit… there’s an element of building your own strength here.

  22. As a teenager I drank in public. I went on pub crawls. I got very, very drunk.

    I also managed to never smash bottles, never spill drinks over anyone other than myself, never caused a serious nuisance.

    How the hell is anyone defending these louts?

  23. The people defending the scum is the reason we canā€™t have nice things in the country anymore

  24. So sorry you had to experience that . But Iā€™m glad there were people there that saw what had happened and helped you out . I hope you had fun seeing your friend , and thank you for the work you do too ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø

  25. This is so heartbreaking and I’m so sorry that happened to you. You write beautifully and very honestly. Teenagers basically don’t have developed brains — that’s not an excuse by the way — so they can be some of the most horribly uncaring people you’ll ever meet. I’m glad you had some help from the strangers around you. I hope you feel welcome here.

  27. Jesus, nobody is defending the stupid kids. But also most other people donā€™t fear for their life when some drunk idiot spills a bottle of beer next to them.

    Glass getting in the eyes, holding back the tears, needed multiple people to assist. Youā€™re riding public transport in one of the worldā€™s largest cities for christā€™s sakes. Unfortunately these things happen.

  28. lately I noticed how many people just drink on trains, itā€™s crazy

  29. So sorry this happened to you. Iā€™m glad some kind people stepped in to help. We are very glad and lucky to have you here and I hope you have a wonderful week.

  30. Iā€™m sorry that happened to you. Sadly drunk people on the train like this can be pretty common, due to a culture of drinking in the UK.

  31. If anytime some drunk person sits next to you don’t be afraid to move away. It won’t be rude of you to do so.

  32. Iā€™m so sorry this happened to you. Glad to see strangers were able to help you out. And whilst some of the comments here are a little questionable, the main thing is you are safe and feeling better.

    Thank you for what you do for the NHS!

  33. Glad someone helped you,

    So why is no-one mentioning the shade difference in that fabric

  34. Tears? Over wet clothes? Goodness.

    Edit: no use crying over spilt…… šŸ˜¶ā€šŸŒ«ļø

  35. Hope youā€™re okay! Thatā€™s a horrible experience! Kids can be really stupid some times. Glad there were some empathetic people to support you!

  36. Unfortunately itā€™s not just you. Iā€™m a grown man and I feel intimidated by groups of teenagers. Though I donā€™t let this show.

    When they are all ganged up they can be quite abusive.

  37. I’m so sorry. I travel from the coast into Waterloo regularly, if you would like someone to sit with just for reassurance please message.

  38. Must be a seasonal thing. Buses today were full of stressed people and teenagers antagonizing everyone.

  39. All the people defending that drunk teenager really reminded me of something that happened when I was a student. Iā€™m from Taiwan and work in the NHS now as a dietitian. One day when I was a student, a bunch of teenagers threw eggs at me while calling me the c word. My clothes were new, and I had a full-on breakdown when I got home. Cried my eyes out and reported it to the police.

    I even posted on AskUK asking why teenagers here can be so reckless, and about half the replies told me itā€™s ā€œnormalā€ to get egged. I honestly couldnā€™t believe it. In the first 20 years of my life, nothing like that had ever happened to me back home.

    Hope youā€™re doing alright, OP. At least the people in this comment section seem way more decent.

  40. Firstly, thank you for coming to a strange country and helping it’s people in their time of need. I salute you and wish we paid you what you are worth not the pittance I’m sure you’re getting.

    As a London native, I understand how this would have shaken you up. I’m not afraid of the majority of people, but I find teenage boys particularly scary when they’re in a group. Add alcohol to the mix and anything can happen, which, in my experience, increases my unease.

    I just want you to know that your feelings on the incident are 100% valid, regardless of whether the breakage was an accident or not. I am so happy that you were not cut by the glass, but ugh smelling of stale beer sucks!

    I hope that your day got better and by the time you read this your nervous system is back to normal. Be blessed and safe.

  42. Thank you for coming here and making it a better place šŸ©·

  43. I remember doing underaged teen dtinking with college mates every week…

    We went places that is would have minimal foot traffic (parks after dark, pub gardens if the pub owner was chill enough, by canals, etc) but never on a moving and public transport. Teens are getting more bold, it seems.

  44. Sounds like a crappy experience. On the upside I’d be shocked if lighting struck twice and you got an unwelcome beer shower on the train again. Hope the rest of your day was better.

Comments are closed.