Bringing Back What a Stag Do Is All About

Weddings are special occasions not only for the bride and the groom, but for their close relatives and friends as well. It marks the beginning of a lifetime with one’s partner. Most folks prepare for the big day because, for anyone getting married, it is a big deal.

Now, what does a stag do have to do with weddings? What is it all about? Here are some of the reasons men have for celebrating that stag party.

It Is Tradition

It has become a long-time tradition to celebrate that last night of freedom to give the groom-to-be one last taste of how it’s like to be single before tying the knot.

Some folks may not know that this tradition actually existed way back when the Greek civilization was prominent. Spartan men would spend the evening would spend the evening before the wedding dining with their closest male friends and relatives.

That tradition did continue until these modern times. However, the tradition slightly changed as seen on the news as some stag do pranks and antics have gone viral for being so hilarious or ridiculous for some people.

Hollywood’s Influence

The Spartan tradition did change a lot in terms of stag do activities. Movies cannot help but influence people for their popularity. Borat certainly made the mankini almost like a standard stag do costume. Other movies like Bachelor Party and The Hangover inspire some men to take that stag night into the extreme, drink beyond what they can take, and wake up the morning after with a nasty hangover.

Much like movies, celebrities have also influenced a lot of folks for their popularity. Stag weekends or even week-long celebrations of some celebrities are on the news. Those that idolize those celebrities tend to emulate them as well. After all, imitation is the best form of flattery. Still, this begs the question, do all men need such grand celebrations?

Be More Practical

Though that wedding day is a monumental event, your mates have lives of their own. That makes it more difficult for a lot of stag groups to really spend time abroad or have a weekend celebration. Stay closer to home and more people might make it. What’s more, that’s more practical as it will definitely cost less.

Dean Gammell did say that a great stag party for most men is, “a good crowd of your friends”. It is the perfect occasion to spend quality time with friends that you do not get to see as often as you’d want. If you really think about it. That’s what a stag party should be all about, having a wonderful time with your mates before tying the knot.

So, choose to have it at a location that’s convenient for all the guests and activities that everyone enjoys. It does not matter if the evening does not follow what most men usually do nowadays for their stag party and just do your own thing. This is also true for hens that plan to celebrate their hen party soon. Just think about it, less money spent for that stag night means more money for the wedding which really is the main event.

British Celebrity on Trial for Assault During a Stag Party

Dane Leon Bowers, famous for being a member of the boy band Another Level, went on a stag party in Norwich last June 1, 2012. He may have a temper when he’s drunk, but he really isn’t all that bad.

It is customary for stag groups to imbibe a lot of alcohol which inevitably leads to total drunkenness. In fact, free flowing alcohol usually accompanies most stag and hen dos. As many people know, people who are drunk can do crazy things. Though drunkenness is never a legitimate excuse, you can still expect some drunks to misbehave.

Bowers’ Drunken Assault in Norwich

Ten hours before the incident in Norwich, Bowers already rated himself 8 out of 10 on the scale of drunkenness. He was totally aware of his condition if not his violent reaction.

A witness that heard the stand-off heard Bowers being accused of racism. Bowers replied with, “don’t accuse me of being a racist – my dad is black.” The witness saw him grab the guy around the neck and started to throw him around.

Now, Bowers stands trial for three cases. Two of those are for assault charges and one is for harassment. He did plead guilty to the assault charge, but he argued about the part about racism. He would never make such actions based on racial discrimination because his grandfather and father are both Jamaican.

Aside from his heritage, Bowers is also a supporter of the Kick It Out football anti-racism campaign and Sodje Sports Foundation which is a charity that hosts sports programs in Africa.

Stag Nights, Bad Behavior, and Drunkenness

A man’s stag night is usually a night for him to spend time with his closest male friends. When men are together in such groups, it is usually inevitable for them to do without beer or other alcoholic drinks. After all, the fact that the night is supposed to be all about celebrating a man’s last moments of freedom means alcohol should be present.

The problem occurs when men have had too much to drink. Not everyone can hold their drink. There is a saying that alcohol should go to one’s stomach and not one’s head, but not all men can actually do that. Such was the case with Dane Bowers.

Since he pleaded guilty to one count of assault, Bowers was sentenced to 120 hours of unpaid work. In addition, he was required to pay £1,000 for expenses. If his companions were not that drunk, one or more of them could have stopped that incident from happening.

Bowers’ spokesman said that his client felt bad about the fact that it took months before the court cleared his name. It is not so surprising since his client’s career was affected by the stigma of racism. Now that it’s all over, Bowers can get back to what he does best. His career with the R&B boy band Another Level may have ended years ago, but he continues to be known for being an R&B singer, DJ, record producer, and songwriter.

Hen and Stag Party Situation in Brighton and Hove

Brighton has long been a popular hen and stag party location for locals and foreign tourists. Even so, local residents and officials are concerned that, eventually, most of its residents will move out due to the current situation.

Some folks may not know that around 1,000 hen and stag parties go to Brighton and Hove every weekend. Last year, the city earned approximately £15 million from stag and hen parties. Clearly, the stag and hen industry is what keeps this city’s economy going. Still, the plea and feelings of local residents cannot be taken astride that easily especially since this industry is what’s causing their discontent.

How It Is in Brighton and Hove

There are around 300 party houses in the city with a regular flow of party people every weekend as of last year. Judging from the statistics mentioned above, families residing in areas near such houses say that their lives are miserable because of the noise and behavior of many revelers.

According to the chairman of the Economic Development and Culture Committee, those parties are part of the city’s appeal. He added that the fact that it is a party destination is what makes it attractive. However, he does acknowledge the complaints of local residents when he said, “we cannot diminish the aggravation and anxiety created in what should be family communities…”

Though the local government tries to “regulate” those party houses, there are just a number of businesses with too much property. Crown Gardens alone has 117 properties that cater to such parties. Brighton Holiday Homes possesses 96 properties too. All of those properties are “within the law,” but the owners, as businessmen, have failed to see how they affect the neighborhood.

Incidents Aside from the Disturbance

Though the disturbance caused by stag parties within the area can be a problem, there have only been two prosecutions related to those party houses. The partying and karaoke was just too much for local residents that the owners were fined £12,000 for breaching noise abatement notices.

That surely won’t stop other property owners that rent out their property to such parties. Even so, a number of them can learn from such incidents.

The Future of Hen and Stag Dos

In the past, residents could still tolerate the late night drinking, noise, music, and shouting because parties in the area were not as frequent. Now that there’s a party every weekend, they are starting to get more vocal.

It certainly makes life a lot more difficult for a Queen’s Park Road resident that’s nursing a baby and taking care of her husband that’s recovering from surgery. Such a ruckus can easily drive her nuts. Still, she places the blame on the council’s lack of planning rather than the party goers.

As some residents choose to move out, this means more property to acquire and rent out for people in the stag and hen industry. The question regarding moderation will really fall on the hands of Brighton and Hove’s local government.