Pubs body 'will punish' over cheap drink

Published Thursday, 09 February 2012
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Bars offering irresponsible alcohol promotions will be "disciplined accordingly", the body representing the pub trade in Northern Ireland has warned.

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The action comes amid ongoing discussions surrounding excessive alcohol consumption and how to tackle it - with the fresh debate having been sparked by the tragic case of a young man who fell into the River Lagan two weeks ago, after a night out.

Pubs of Ulster's chief executive Colin Neill said the decision to take disciplinary action comes after "unwillingness by some in the industry, including members of Pubs of Ulster" to address the issue.

Whilst those engaged in this type of promotion are in the minority, most have now agreed to review and amend their approach in the interest of customer wellbeing," he added.

"However, some have been less receptive.

"We will, however, continue in our discussions with these venues in an effort to end the sale of drinks at £1 - which is, in our opinion, not a responsible promotion."

Pubs of Ulster cannot stand by any practice that in our opinion promotes the misuse or abuse of alcohol and likewise, we cannot support any premises that continues to act irresponsibly on drinks promotions.

Colin Neill, Pubs of Ulster

Joby Murphy, 20, has been missing feared drowned since Wednesday 25 January.

His family have since spoken out against cheap alcohol promotions - after it emerged he had been drinking £1 shots at a local nightclub that night.

Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has vowed to tighten legislation to prevent deals which may encourage binge-drinking.

"We need to learn from this tragedy and, as far as possible, make sure it does not happen again," Mr McCausland said.

"I was shocked to learn that ambulance call outs to the Odyssey area treble on nights when there are drinks promotions.

"There are clear health, as well as public safety, issues to be addressed and I am confident our community will support positive action."

A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service has said it is being put under pressure by a drinking culture which now extends well beyond the 'traditional' surge at the weekend.

"Traditionally, we would have seen Friday and Saturday night as our busy evenings - but now this stretches from Wednesday right through to Sunday," John McPoland explained.

"There's no doubt it's part of the culture within Northern Ireland now of many, many, many more young people drinking."

Mr McPoland added that such calls can be frustrating for paramedics as their services may be needed in some cases, but more often young people involved just need to get home safely.

© UTV News
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32 Comments
fact in ards wrote (103 days ago):
nobody forces these people to binge on alcohol. it does not matter if its cheap or expensive you will still get people drinking too much, i am sorry about this young lad lost his life.
Tomc in Belfast wrote (103 days ago):
Ian - well said. I knew a chap in a similar position, until he sold up and left the trade rather than keep an empty bar open. This country doesn't need another quango.
Paul in Belfast wrote (103 days ago):
Is Colin Neill trying to kill pubs off altogether? Last time I was in a bar in town it was £3.70 for a pint of Carlsberg. I can buy 6 tins for a fiver and drink at home. Why would anyone want to pay through the nose for drink when you can buy it elsewhere? All you'll see is people turning up at the pub half cut after getting started before they go out.
Gerry in Belfast wrote (104 days ago):
Here's an idea...bear with me...why not make under age drinking illegal? It's so siple it's brilliant, no?
Ian in Belfast wrote (104 days ago):
Colin Neill is desperate to make an issue out of this because he knows he backed the wrong horse with his enthusiastic support for the Smoking Ban which he thought would bring in thousands of new customers, but instead drove thousands out, who now socialise at home. All this hysteria about cheap supermarket drink, pre 2007 you could buy cheap supermarket drink yet pubs still did ok. My pub bought supermarket drink in fact, the only product we bought from the brewery was keg beer! The smoking ban caused my trade to drop off a cliff as we were a bar in a working class area, and all of a sudden valuable big spending customers were forced out into the cold like lepers. We had weathered recessions before, used supermarket prices to our advantage. We closed just before Christmas 2010, putting five people on the dole. Thanks Colin and the Nanny State.
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