Alcohol Concern slams pub offers in three towns
Alcohol Concern has slammed pub and club operators after finding half the venues in three Welsh city centres were offering "irresponsible" discounts.
Some of the promotions in Newport, Swansea and Wrexham encouraged people to get "plastered" while in other pubs and clubs alcohol was cheaper than soft drinks.
The organisation has also called for a minimum price of 50p a unit in a bid to eliminate some of the most "irresponsible" promotions.
Andrew Misell, Alcohol Concern's policy manager for Wales, said: "With double measures of spirits available for just £1, a woman could drink more than twice the recommended daily amount of alcohol - the usual definition of a binge - for just £3 and a man could binge for as little as £4.
"The night-time economy can bring big benefits to our towns and cities, but this must be balanced with the public health implications of cheap alcohol.
"We'd like to see pubs and clubs competing on the basis of their facilities, entertainment and atmosphere, rather than who can offer the cheapest booze."
The snapshot survey, carried out in November, found that happy hours lasting more than 60 minutes were commonplace, as were two-for-one and three-for-one deals.
Many licensed premises also offer discounts if customers buy a double measure of spirits instead of a single and others sold shots for just £1.
Dr Richard Lewis, Welsh secretary of the British Medical Association, said: "The promotional activities, which Alcohol Concern has highlighted, can encourage excessive drinking, and retailers must be more responsible about how they market alcohol, due to the health damage excessive drinking can cause.
Examples of some promotions
Swansea - More than half of the venues visited offered some form of drink promotion, including:
• The Bank Statement sold 330ml bottles of Becks lager for 99p
• No Sign Bar, on Wind Street, offered discounts on double measures of spirits
• Idols offered a wheel of fortune which revealed discount promotions throughout the night
• Play nightclub offered an all-inclusive deal giving customers free drinks all night for a £10 entrance fee
Newport - A small number of drinks promotions but alcohol prices were low:
• The cheapest pint of lager was 5p less than the cheapest non-alcoholic drink at The Reflex, High Street.
• University students were offered drinks at £1 every Wednesday night at The Reflex
• Escapade offered customers the chance to drink all night for a £10 fee
• Fire and Ice had an all-inclusive night on Friday, followed by a Saturday night three-for-one deal on all drinks excluding cocktails
Wrexham - Six of the eight venues offered discounted drinks, including:
• £1 a pint of Bass at the Golden Lion, High Street
• Spirits for £1 and three-for-one deals on Thursdays at the Groove Club, Brooke Street
• Three-for-one beer platters at the Nag's Head
• Double-up-for-£1 deal on spirits at Lloyd's No.1 bar
