Pub slammed as "irresponsible" (From Stourbridge News)

Pub slammed as "irresponsible"

11:12am Wednesday 17th December 2008

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A STOURBRIDGE pub has been slammed as “completely irresponsible” for trying to drum up trade by selling drinks for as little as 99p each.

Chicago Rock Cafe is hoping to entice cash-strapped punters back to the bar straight after Christmas by holding a Boxing Day sale on December 26, and offering selected drinks for under £1.

The High Street venue has also been holding We Love £10 all inclusive nights on Thursdays, offering pub-goers free booze all-night long once they have paid the £10 entry fee.

But anti-binge drinking campaigners have criticised the promotions, saying they will only increase excessive alcohol consumption and booze-related incidents in the town centre.

Stourbridge MP Lynda Waltho, chairman of the All-Party Alcohol Misuse Committee, said: “I’m livid. It’s completely irresponsible. I think it will be damaging to people’s health and to the town centre.

“Everybody knows with cheap booze people drink to excess and you get bad behaviour.

“It will have an effect on the police, the ambulance service, the health service - and there could be increased costs to the criminal justice system.”

Stourbridge councillor Malcolm Knowles said: “I’m not against people enjoying themselves, but I think there’s plenty of alcohol about already without trying to push more down people’s throats.

“I sincerely hope the police keep a watch on this.”

Lye councillor Adrian Turner also raised concerns.

And Mark McMaster, licensee at Glass and chairman of Stourbridge’s Pubwatch group, said trouble in the town had escalated on Thursday nights since the £10-all-you-can-drink events were launched at Chicagos a few weeks ago.

And he said fellow pub bosses in Stourbridge fear the all-time low drinks prices at the boozer could also affect their businesses, especially the independent bars.

Tony Glew, project manager at Aquarius - Dudley’s Community Alcohol Team, said: “Having drink at those prices is concerning, we would urge people to drink responsibly and look after themselves.”

He said women should try to avoid drinking more than two to three units of alcohol a day and men should try to limit themselves to three to four units a day.

Don Shenker, chief executive of Alcohol Concern, said: “Drink-all-you-can and deeply discounted promotions are deeply irresponsible and are doing very little to reduce the number of binge-drinkers.

"Such offers should not be used as gimmicks to get customers through the door. It is irresponsible practices like these that place heavy burden on health services and the police."

In the meantime, Dudley’s community safety partnership ‘safe & and sound’ has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of binge-drinking.

And as part of it, goody bags are being dished out to pub-goers leaving Stourbridge bars - containing bottled water to combat dehydration, lollipops to boost sugar levels after a night out and information on how to get home safely.

No-one from Chicago Rock Cafe was unavailable for comment.

For advice on alcohol related issues call Aquarius on 01384 261267.

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