Chewn - "I regularly drive through France and Spain and stop for fuel and refreshment break on motorways. Although alcohol is available few travellers seem to be drinking it."
But that is because the European approach to alcohol is fundamentally different to the British approach.
I am generalising, but in general cultural approaches to alcohol, the following broad brushstrokes do apply.
Europeans have a drink with a meal because they enjoy a drink.
Britains drink to be drunk - hence the need to consume as much alcohol in as short a time as possible, and the culture that a 'good night out' must enjoy a degree of alcohol poisoning.
European motorists, faced with a motorway pub, would probably ignore the alcohol, Brits will be at it like a rat up a drainpipe.
Remember the nonsensical 'cafe culture' we were going to get with 24-hour opening? What did we get - violence and anti-social behaviour through the roof.
As the Weatherspoons man says, we do not live in a 'nanny state', but we still have to do our best to ensure that the majority of people behave sensibly, and expecting that automatically is simply naiive.
Common sense dictates that anyone driving a car would use a seat belt, but unchecked by law, the majority did not, and would not if the law was repealed.
Similarly, motorcyclists would in a lot of cases eschew a helmet if not legally compelled.
Expecting adult responsible behavour is not the same as getting adult responsible beahviour, so a service station pub is like offering a quick game of Russian Roulette - there are always people who will play.