I was told a story by an EGMC employee about a pilot that arrived last year, who slurred the radio calls and could barely walk to the C room. Upon entering to check in, he was obviously the wrong end of a very long session. EGMC called plod. Plod called Gatwick for giudance. Gatwick advised that there was nothing that could be done and no action was taken. That's just not on.
The law has since changed and we are bound by the same rules as those party going heavy pilots. The law now allows no more than the equivalent of 0.5 pints of beer in your system at the time of flying.
In a way, I find this better. It means you can have a (note the singular) glass of wine with lunch in LFAT and be legal to fly out at 17:00.
I enjoy a pint *much* more than the next man, but there's a time and a place, and a method of transport home that suits the level of inebriation.