Noctis chief backs Make it the Minimum
A nightclub trade chief has said his members would be happy to see minimum pricing introduced to remove discount deals from the business.
Jon Collins, chairman of Noctis, said promotions such as widely-reported £5 entry and free drinks all night at Escapade in Newport, were the result of a "saturated market."
He said the deals were not aimed at encouraging excessive drinking but designed to tempt people away from other venues or buying cheap supermarket booze.
He said: "This discounting is a natural response to the discounting and competition and general expense of the high street and the increase in competition from the off-trade."
He added that Noctis fully-supported The Publican's Make it the Minimum campaign which is calling for a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol sold.
The campaign highlights the responsible prices the vast majority of pubs sell alcohol at and calls for an end to promotions - such as Escapade's - and loss-leading supermarket deals on alcohol.
Collins added: "We believe minimum pricing is the solution and we support The Publican's far-sighted campaign on this matter.
"We know that high-street bar operators that are running these promotions would happily comply with minimum pricing because they believe this would take excessive competition out of the market and would allow them to compete on what they do best which is putting on wonderful events at their venues."
The Escapade promotion on Wednesday nights offers customers unlimited drinks so long as they return their empty glass to the bar before getting another drink.
Escapade's manager Steve Dew defended the deal. He said: "I don't think it's irresponsible. We had 700 people in the club and we did not have one drunk and disorderly incident.
"There was no time limit on the offer so there were no pressures on people to drink quickly. People don't come here just to drink, they come to dance and to enjoy the entertainment."
Sign the Publican's petition calling for minimum pricing by clicking on the link. Sign the Make it the Minimum petition
