|
|
5/27/2005
Seeking ways to prevent binge
drinking, about half of the 59,000 pubs in Great Britain have agreed to
end 'Happy Hour' promotions,
Bloomburg News reported May 23.
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said that roughly 32,000
pubs will end "all you can drink" and "girls drink free" deals, as well
as other promotions thought to encourage excessive drinking.
"Irresponsible promotions damage the reputation of the sector, drive
down quality and standards, and have no place in a well-managed licensed
business," said BBPA spokesperson Mark Hastings.
The announcement comes amid a major law-enforcement crackdown on binge
drinking, which is blamed for tens of millions of dollars in healthcare
and other costs and is linked to about half of all violent crimes in
Great Britain.
In 2003, the Irish government banned happy-hour promotions, which helped
lead to a 3-percent decline in alcohol consumption the following year.
U.K. officials have proposed to fine pubs that experience repeated
incidences of violence and excessive drinking.
The BPPA represents about two-thirds of all pubs in the U.K.
Source:
Join Together
Online.
Join Together is a project of the
Boston University School of Public Health |
