A DERRY nightclub has
been rapped for encouraging customers to engage in
"excessive and irresponsible drinking" over a
two-hour period.
The North’s Independent Complaints Panel upheld a
complaint against Envy Bar & Nightclub at Strand
Road in the city.
The complaint was over a ‘free bar’ promotion that
encouraged customers to consume alcohol to the value
of £10 (12 euro) within a fixed period of two hours.
The panel found that the nightclub had breached the
Joint Industry Code for the Responsible Promotion
and Retail of Alcohol in Northern Ireland. The code
was adopted just over a year ago.
It states that no alcohol promotion will "condone or
encourage illegal, excessive or irresponsible
drinking such as binge-drinking, drunkenness or
drink-driving, nor refer in any favourable manner to
the effects of intoxication".
Chair of the Independent Complaints Panel overseeing
the code, Duncan McCausland, said:
"The panel was unanimous in their view that this
offer encouraged customers to engage in excessive
and irresponsible drinking in a defined period of
time.
"We have now met with the owner of the venue who
cooperated fully with this process and acted as soon
as the compliance issue was brought into question.
We welcome the fact that they have amended the
promotion to comply with the code guidance and
advice."
Pubs of Ulster chief executive, Colin Neill, said
irresponsible drinks promotions were not welcome in
the industry.
"Irresponsible drinks promotions and practices have
no place in our industry and as the representative
body of the trade, we are committed to ensuring that
our members comply with all aspects of the code,"
said Mr Neill.
"The pub industry has made much progress in becoming
more responsible and accountable for their events,
promotions and marketing output.
"We hope this decision serves as a reminder to all
licensees that the code and its panel have a
zero-tolerance approach to irresponsible practices." |
