Pub offers pints for 1p

A Northern-based pub chain is offering customers a pint of beer for 1p as part of a promotion designed to help people through the credit crunch.

The Dukedom Group, which owns 32 venues across the UK, is offering a pint of Tetley beer for 1p to customers who buy a glass of house spirit, with even the mixer thrown in free, for £2.

"We want to give our customers the chance to enjoy two drinks for under £2," said operations manager Russell Vickers.

"These are difficult times for everybody and many people are having to think before enjoying a social evening out. We hope that the offer of a pint of Tetley beer for 1p with an order for a spirit of vodka, brandy, whisky, rum or gin, which normally costs under £1.99, will encourage our customers to feel that they can still enjoy the conviviality and comfort of their local pub without running up a big bar bill."

Vickers rebuffed suggestions that the deal could be seen as irresponsible. "The offer is restricted to a pint of beer and a spirit, which are not typically the choice of young drinkers.

"Our staff are trained to refuse to serve anybody who they think might have had too much to drink and we will be introducing refresher training in the pubs where the offer is running.

"This is a genuine attempt to give our customer the chance to have a drink on us during a period of difficulty for household budgets. We have always tried to find ways of giving value for money in our premises while retaining a safe and comfortable environment."