The problem of drafting to which Beagle refers stems, in my opinion, from the culture of the Parliamentary drafting offices, and this affects many fields of activity as well as aviation. UK legislation has a particular adherence to the ""If X then Y", "A, provided that B, except for C" approach to legal drafting. Lawyers in general have greatly improved their use of plain English over the last decade or so, but this culture change has not thus far penetrated to the Parliamentary draftspersons.
Claret over luncheon? Not these days. We have modernised our vices, so are more likely to had up for sending inappropriately worded emails to the girly pupils than for quaffing too much Chateau Glug. Hoorah for progress.
PS: when I was very little, I did a hilarious unfair dismissal case involving two of the waiters in the Judges' dining room at the Old Bailey (where the Great and Good are entertained) hurling claret decanters at each other in the scullery.