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Irresponsible drink promotions

An irresponsible drink promotion is considered to be one that encourages the sale or supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises in a manner which carries a significant risk of leading or contributing to crime and disorder, prejudice to public safety, public nuisance or harm to children.

Mandatory Condition 2

(1) The responsible person shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that staff on relevavant premises do not carry out, arrange or participate in any irresponsible promotions in relation to the premises.

(2) In this paragraph, an irresponsible promotion means any one or more of the following activities, or substantially similar activities, carried on for the purpose of encouraging the sale of supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises in a manner which carries a significant risk or leading or contributing to crime and disorder, prejudice to public safety, public nuisance, or harm to children (a) games or other activities which require or encourage or are designed to require or encourage, individuals to (i) drink a quantity of alcohol within a time limit (other than to drink alcohol sold or supplied on the premises before the cessation of the period in which the responsible person is authorised to sell or supply alcohol or (ii) drink as much alcohol as possible (whether within a time limit or otherwise) (b) Provision of unlimited or unspecified quantities of alcohol free or for a fixed or discounted fee to the public or to a group defined by a particular characteristic (other than any promotion or discount available to an individual in respect of alcohol for consumption at a table meal, as defined in section 159 of the Act) (c) Provision of free or discounted alcohol or any other thing as a prize to encourage or reward the purchase and consumption of alcohol over a period of 24 hours or less (d) Provision of free or discounted alcohol in relation to the viewing on the premises of a sporting event, where that provision is dependent on(i)  The outcome of a race, competition or other event or process or (ii) The likelihood of anything occurring or not occurring(e) Selling or supplying alcohol in association with promotional posters or flyers on, or in the vicinity of, the premises which can reasonably be considered to condone, encourage or glamorise anti-social behaviour or to refer to the effects of drunkenness in any favourable manner.

Guidance relating to this condition

This condition prevents drinking games, large quantities of alcohol for free or at a fixed or discounted price.  Examples of promotions that must cease are:

  • women drink for free;
  • half price drinks for under 25s;
  • discount nights for student;s
  • cheap drinks for fans of a specific sporting team;
  • half price drinks when England scores a goal;
  • free drink if your team wins;
  • all you can drink for £10;
  • pay £5 entry and then drink up to 12 shots;
  • 10 pints for £10;
  • pay your entry fee then drink free until 10pm.
  • drink 4 pints get the 5th for free

You will no longer be allowed to run promotions that make a customer drink a certain amount of alcohol in order to get a prize or reward inside a time limit of less than 24 hours. 

You cannot use materials or signs on or near to your premises to advertise promotions if they condone, encourage or glamorise anti-social behaviour or refer to getting alcohol in any positive way.

This condition does not ban all discounting of alcohol and will only fall foul of this condition if they are promoted and organised in an irresponsible way.  If you are in any doubt please speak with the police or the licensing authority before you organise a specific promotion.

For more information contact Licensing Unit by telephone: Licensing Services - 01634 337107 or 337108 / Enforcement - 01634 337112 or 337106 or by email: licensing@medway.gov.uk

Write to: Licensing Unit, Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TR

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