Case 195 - Take-away coffee on a train had to be put in a paper bag for health and safety reasons

Issue

Whilst travelling on a train the enquirer was told that to take away his coffee it had to be in a paper bag. He was told it was due to health and safety.

Panel decision

There is no health and safety legislation which prescribes that hot drinks must be carried through the train in a carrier bag. However, the train operator has introduced the measure as a means of reducing the risk of scalding if people trip or stumble when walking through the train. They believe that the reduction in the number of scalding incidents suggests that this has been an effective and sensible measure to introduce.