Booze and a Banker Down the Tube

The New York and London financial communities may have their differences, but they have at least one thing in common: young bankers who can't seem to learn the lesson about what not to put in full view of their employers on Facebook.

An organizer of the riotous "Circle Line Cocktail Party" on the London Underground on Saturday night turned out to be one Alexandre Graham, a 26-year-old banker employed by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

To celebrate the last few hours of legal drinking on the Tube, before a ban took effect that had been imposed by the recently elected mayor of London, Boris Johnson, revelers stormed into Tube stations and trains.

Vitriol toward Johnson, an unbridled love of alcohol, and the organizational power of Facebook combined to create a night of chaos. People were arrested, transport staff and police officers were assaulted, and trains were taken out of service.

The Royal Bank of Scotland was not amused to discover that the mayhem had been started in part by one of its employees, just 18 months into his career. How did his role come to light? Graham was listed as the originator of one of the Facebook groups dedicated to organizing Saturday night's festivities.

To make matters worse, photographs surfaced of Graham in a subway car, wearing a tuxedo and red bow-tie and holding a flute of champagne aloft.

Busted!
The Daily Mail reports that, "by 11 p.m. a group of youths were gyrating on top of ticket machines, while a girl was riding an information sign as though it was a pony. A man dressed as a gorilla was arrested."

Graham, to be sure, denies the scope of his involvement, saying a small gathering got out of hand, he left before any of the chaos began, etc., etc., etc.

Royal Bank of Scotland told the Mail that an internal review of Alexandre Graham's conduct is under way.

Indeed.

Liz Gunnison

"Oi! This is the train to Paddington station, innit?" Last call on the London Underground on Saturday night. (Photo by Ann Tornkvist/Getty Images)