‘Happy Hour’ promotions to be scrapped

Thousands of pubs across the UK are set to scrap ‘Happy Hour’ promotions in a bid to clamp down on binge drinking, alcohol misuse and anti-social behaviour.

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) announced that its 32,000 members would be banning the promotions. The BBPA’s members, who include Carlsberg, Diageo and Coors Brewers, own nearly two thirds of Britain’s 59,000 pubs and account for 98% of beer brewed in the UK.

Both the government and the police have welcomed the introduction of the ban. In January, the Home Office announced a series of proposals aimed at tackling the culture of binge-drinking, which included supporting a code of practise, allowing pub owners and operators to ban “irresponsible drinks promotions”.

The BBPA said that irresponsible promotions “have no place” in the UK’s beer and pub industry. Mark Hastings, Director of Communications, BBPA, said: “Offers like pay £10 on the door and all drinks are free; drinking games; and schemes that encourage people to drink too much too quickly have no place in our sector and we are determined to stamp them out. Responsible promotions do have an important role to play in a pub business and are in the interests of consumers. Irresponsible promotions damage the reputation of the sector, drive down quality and standards and have no place in a well-managed licensed business. The companies that have signed up to these standards are determined to play a leading role in improving practice throughout the industry.”

(KMcA)