Fines for loud music on public transport

Nick's ESL News Lessons

A printable worksheet for news-based English conversation classes.

Date: 2025/11/09

Difficulty: Intermediate B1

PDF: Fines for loud music on public transport

Vocabulary Match

behaviour •• actions
annoying •• penalty
fine •• irritating
proposal •• impolite
connected •• plan
rude •• social

Vocabulary Answers

behaviouractions
annoyingirritating
finepenalty
proposalplan
connectedsocial
rudeimpolite

Article

More and more people are watching videos or listening to music without headphones on public transport. Many passengers find it annoying, and some transport companies are now taking action. In Ireland, Irish Rail has introduced a €100 fine (about ¥17,000) for anyone playing sounds in public. In the UK, there are even proposals to fine people up to £1,000 (about ¥190,000).

Experts say this behaviour has become more common since Covid, as people feel less connected to social rules. Some may also think it's normal because phones no longer come with free earphones. Others are simply unaware of how rude it seems to those around them.

Quiz

  1. Who finds it annoying when people play music without headphones?
  2. What is the fine in Ireland for playing sounds in public?
  3. How much could people be fined in the UK?
  4. Why do experts think this behaviour has become more common?

Quiz Answers (examples)

  1. Many passengers find it annoying.
  2. The fine in Ireland is €100 (about ¥17,000).
  3. People could be fined up to £1,000 (about ¥190,000) in the UK.
  4. Experts think it has become more common because people feel less connected to social rules since Covid.

Conversation

A:Did you hear about the new fines for playing music out loud?
B:Yeah, I heard! It's €100 in Ireland.
A:That's a lot! But I guess it makes sense.
B:True, people need to be more considerate.
A:I always use my headphones.
B:Same here! I don't want to pay that fine.

Discussion

  1. Do you listen to music on public transport?
  2. What would you do if someone played loud music near you?
  3. Do you think the fines are too high or just right?
  4. Have you ever forgotten your headphones at home?
  5. Do you prefer wired or wireless headphones? Why?

Source Material

https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2025/1030/1540979-headphone-dodgers-bare-beating-sodcasting-people-not-using-headphones-on-public-transport/

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