What happens when a Christian couple tries to ban swearing in the pub they were running? You’d expect some resistance. After all, language behaviour is social behaviour, and social change doesn’t happen just like that.

The couple have since been fired because of the business fall-off. Now everyone can employ their dialect without fear of reprisal.

The couple, who took over the pub in March this year, imposed a ban on swearing.

It was supposed to make for a nicer atmosphere but regulars disagreed and the pub emptied.
…
Regulars said that Mrs Fleming would walk round the pub with a Bible, and lecture people for bad language.

John Rudkn, 61, a regular for years, said: “Any swearing and you were barred. It was well over the top.”

John’s wife, who did not wish to give her name, said she had been told off by Mrs Fleming for bad language.

“You can’t run a pub and not swear,” she said. “If they are Christians they should run a church, not a bloody pub.”

George Whipps, 68, another regular, said people should expect foul language in a pub.

“She put a sign up outside saying no swearing,” he said. “This pub in the last eight days has perked up 100 per cent. All of the old regulars are back.

Hey, we’re English speakers. We impose language norms on other people.