A vaguely amusing joke sent

Posted September 22, 2000 5:56 PM.

London (Reuters) 09:00 22 September

A group of militant alcoholics have blockaded a brewery in Sheffield, England in protest at the exorbitant tax imposed on booze in the United Kingdom, Government officials said today.

Fears have been growing that the protests will spread country wide and some panic drinking has been reported. The protestors have demanded that the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair meets the group "If he thinks he's hard enough" and are said to be concerned that he may be looking at their "birds".

Official advice from the national beer watchdog CAMRA, is to ensure that everyone drinks enough beer this evening to keep them p***ed through to the weekend. The Government, however, advises that national stocks are reserved for emergencies. The Leader of the Opposition, William Hague, was quoted this morning as saying "F*** that, I'm off to the pub".