I think the "drunk tank" is an excellent idea, especially with the festive period approaching. When you described it before in a previous post i tried to think of a way of how to operate it. Something along the lines of: - Container with windows i.e like they have for offices on large construction sites - Staffed by a Staff Nurse/NA or EMT/Paramedic and either a Security Guard or Police Officer/ 2 PCSO's or maybe even a TA Field Hospital Unit - Patient presenting at A/E (Ambulance or otherwise) triaged appropriately for any injury - Any patient that is drunk but uninjured is sent to the tank to sober up rather than taking space in A/E dept - Modest furnishings i.e. Army camp bed and woollen blanket (maybe a pillow if they're lucky!) - Upon sobering up pt given a fixed penalty for drunk and disorderly or the like and letter breaking down the charges for their care if they had to pay for it. Hopefully it would shame enough people in to thinking twice about doing it again but some people just won't learn. This idea is not without it's flaws, as with most things with the NHS it come down to cost/who's going to pay for it or how it would be run or even where the staff would come from to operate it. Another thing human rights of the individual, duty of care to the patient etc etc all come in to play but something should be looked into by trusts in to caring for these individuals without taking up space for someone who may really need it.