[Bladesman]

Originally Posted by willman

I personally think its a parental issue, bring your children up not to be like sheep. It isn't difficult to have a drink without getting legless.

Yep if people could stick to the same drink for a start then they wouldn't get so drunk either.

Its no wonder why the clubs in Sheffield seem to be getting worse its not about the venue and the people that go anymore its more about who has the cheapest drinks night.

[rich5315]

Im 46 and started drinking when i was 16. Pub, mates and weekend it all went together, although i dont drink in pubs i still drink at home and after 30 years quite heavily!! Its become a problem. Knowing what i know now the best thing they could do is to make it like america. Drinking age 21. you can only buy alcohol from a liquor store (which i think are run by the state) even most resteraunts can only sell bottled beer. Theres no alcohol in supermarkets and off licenses dont exist. The kids do well at school and dont hang round street corners drunk and making a nuisance of themselves like they do here!!! At 21 they are mature enough to respect alcohol and dont go to night clubs and binge drink. What a wonderful world it would be!!!

[RobfromLeeds]

Originally Posted by DerbyTup

The following is taken from the Going Out section on here.

It's a venue in Sheffield who are advertising one of their events, presumably aiming at young people. They mention the performing artists but follow it with this...

FREE ENTRY!!!

//// SOYO Live DRINKS OFFERS ////

£1 Shots / £1.50 Amstel Pint
£1.50 Spirit & Mixer
£3.50 Dbl Vodka Red Bull
£6 Desperados Bucket
£6 Cocktail Jugs
£50 Red Bull Vodka Boat
(Bottle of Vodka & 6 Red Bull)

Early Doors Offers 8pm - 10pm
£2 Cocktails / £5 Jugs / £5 House Wine

Lovely. X

And remember as always its FREE ENTRY!!!

What do you think this message conveys?

To me, this says, "come and get drunk - cheaply". It's symptomatic of the "drink culture" that is the bane of this country. "Binge Britain".

Now, you may see nothing wrong with it - it is, after all, "what young people do". But does that make it right?

Is it right to promote an event where the cheap alcohol is awarded star billing like this? Is the event about the performing artists, or the cheap booze?

I have worked for many years in regulated industries where companies and organisations have to take very great care over how they promote their business. They have to make sure they don't "mislead" or create the wrong impression.

Alcohol abuse is a SERIOUS problem in this country. It costs the taxpayer millions because it leads to many other health and social problems.

Maybe, one day, we will see this kind of advertising and promotion made illegal? What do you think?

Alcohol is cheaper than that in Supermarkets. Supermarkets advertise their discounts very heavily. Why not vent your anger at them, rather than a random club?

A quick look at their wesbite reveals that at ASDA you can get a standard bottle of vodka (£10) and 6 redbulls (£6) for less than a 1/3 of what that club is offering.

The reason nothing is ever done about minimum pricing is that it would be the supermarkets who would have to raise their prices, pubs and clubs generally charge such a premium anyway and so would be less effected. Politicians don't want to upset the powerful corporations that run supermarkets, so little or nothing is done.

[rapido]

i agree that setting a minimum price for alcohol penalizes responsible drinkers but something really has to be done about the booze culture in Britain.
When I see TV footage of Brits on the p**s abroad I am embarrased by the behaviour of these people.
I couldn't help but feel sorry for the lad who ended up in the middle of a media frenzy fror urinating on the senotaph in town; I appreciate how offensive and upsetting many people found this but ultimately, he was an 18 year old lad, away from home (probably for the first time for any amount of time) and was deliberately encouraged to go out and get paraletic by an organised event promoter. He probably did't have a clue wht he was doing.
It's the idea being purportated that it's cool, fun and acceptable to get dangerously drunk that needs addressing and cheap booze promotions aimed at young people aren't helping

[chem1st]

Originally Posted by RobfromLeeds

Alcohol is cheaper than that in Supermarkets. Supermarkets advertise their discounts very heavily. Why not vent your anger at them, rather than a random club?

A quick look at their wesbite reveals that at ASDA you can get a standard bottle of vodka (£10) and 6 redbulls (£6) for less than a 1/3 of what that club is offering.

The reason nothing is ever done about minimum pricing is that it would be the supermarkets who would have to raise their prices, pubs and clubs generally charge such a premium anyway and so would be less effected. Politicians don't want to upset the powerful corporations that run supermarkets, so little or nothing is done.

And the duty on the vodka, and the vat upon the duty?

£25.52 per litre of pure alcohol;

0.7L*0.375 (37.5%abv)* 25.52 * 1.2 (vat multiplier) = £8.04

You can purchase a bottle at ASDA for £9.82.

£9.82-£8.04 = £1.78, divide that by six to work out the VAT component of that (30p).

The actual cost of the bottle of vodka?

£1.49.

So the vodka can be produced, bottled, shipped and sold at a profit for under £1.50.

And the OP thinks £50 for a bottle of vodka is cheap.

The next thing he will be saying that we have affordable housing in the UK.

And when you hear people talk of minimum pricing, you can automatically assume these people are clinically retarded. We have minimum pricing already, and it is determined by the duty.

If you really want to, you can get blindo on under £2.

And you can drink yourself to death for under a fiver.

All you need is a bit of land to grow some tatos, but you must rent the land form the monopolists, no digging for victory in the land of the serfs!

[Walksalot]

another of the i know best type of posts that annoy me so much , ive drunk for many years , sometimes gotten completely wasted , always had fun , never hurt anyone or been harmed myself , much like the VAST majority of people going out , the only problem with drinking today is the lack of accountability being actively instilled into people , if someone goes too far make them accountable , charge for hospital services , make the courts deal effectively with miscreants , teach accountability and the self restraint will follow , get off the bandwagon and allow people the right to enjoy themselves as long as it dosent harm others ..

[Leah-Lacie]

Don't forget this is Sheffield.

If it isn't cheap or free, then nobody would be interested. Mention "cheap" or "free" and the tight gits of our city will be there in droves.

[*_ash_*]

Originally Posted by DerbyTup

To me, this says, "come and get drunk - cheaply". It's symptomatic of the "drink culture" that is the bane of this country. "Binge Britain".

To me, this says "you are highly influenced by cheap media culture". Your issue is symptomatic of "media frenzy", that is far too common on this country.

[Everlasting]

From my experience the drinks in Soyo are not too bad. You can get much worse in places (for example Corp) but on the other hand much better in others (for example Platillos). I actually think it's great that this bar offers value for money in a moderate environment that rarely has trouble in comparison to other places.

[Forumosaurus]

To be fair this is at Soyo and Soyo have a pretty strict door policy. The first sign of trouble and the troublemakers are thrown out.

This offer is on Thursday which is on a student night.

I know know from personal experience that the majority of violence occurs on a Saturday. And a lot of it by people around 30 years old.

It's very rare for something to kick of on Thursday at a student night.

Young people get a bad press from the 30 something skin heads that get plastered on a Saturday night.

Ban the over 30s from bars after 7pm and the crime would plummet.

EDIT: Sorry not Thursday, Monday. Their double vodka RedBull is only £1.50 on Thursday haha.

Seriously though it is.

[G MARX]

in relation to a few of the posts on here ,i know of a decent hardworking girl 17yr old ,who now has discovered vodka shes quit exercise classes and her college work is suffering as shes plastered all weekend i mean totally out of her head ive spoke with her mother who says so what! shes young ,so i agree with the 21 age limit on booze

[chem1st]

Originally Posted by G MARX

in relation to a few of the posts on here ,i know of a decent hardworking girl 17yr old ,who now has discovered vodka shes quit exercise classes and her college work is suffering as shes plastered all weekend i mean totally out of her head ive spoke with her mother who says so what! shes young ,so i agree with the 21 age limit on booze

Legal drinking age in the UK is 5 years old.

Legal drinking age should really be lower.

There is no harm in a baby drinking in moderation.

[WallBuilder]

I always think things started getting a bit out of control when pubs started to require bouncers and door people usually needed to deal with drunken behaviour. Then there was the really stupid idea of extending bar opening times which then just encouraged people to drink even more rather than them suddenly becoming ssensible drinkers who would space their drinking out.
If some-one wants to go out and thinks the only way to have an enjoyable evening is to guzzle as much booze as possible then I find this rather sad. However if this then causes them to come to the attention of the police then I think the miniscule fines should be increased drastically. Mayb e a £500 fine would cause people to be slightly more aware of what they are doing.

[Gricehead]

Originally Posted by RobfromLeeds

A quick look at their wesbite reveals that at ASDA you can get a standard bottle of vodka (£10) and 6 redbulls (£6) for less than a 1/3 of what that club is offering.

The music is probably better at ASDA as well, to be fair.

[Everlasting]

Originally Posted by G MARX

in relation to a few of the posts on here ,i know of a decent hardworking girl 17yr old ,who now has discovered vodka shes quit exercise classes and her college work is suffering as shes plastered all weekend i mean totally out of her head ive spoke with her mother who says so what! shes young ,so i agree with the 21 age limit on booze

However, surely we could look at how the rest of Europe deal with alcohol too. This could be incorrect and a very naive outlook but many other countries do not have this age limit on drinking and they have many less problems. I see by having age limits on these type of things people may go wild when they reach that age because due to lacking experience?

Also, she is currently drinking underage so how would raising the age make a difference?

[FMR Presents]

In response to this.... as it was my original listing event that seems to cause such a reaction. It is a Monday night free entry live gig, hosting some AMAZING local bands and up and coming touring acts. The offers (of which there only a few drinks offers on a menu containing varying cocktails, beers, spirits etc etc.) I think you will find the are also in line with most bars. The whole point about the live night is offering people the chance to go and see a few great bands (for FREE) and without having to spend ££ on being there. If the drinks were expensive i'm sure people would then complain we are putting on a free gig then "ripping you off" with drinks prices.

So what are you supposed to do? It's a nice bar, the quality of the night is good, the bands, djs etc are good, and the drinks are good.... and don't cost the world. Door staff, bar staff and management all monitor and run the bar well. It's not the sort of place you see people falling out of drunk. Its a place to enjoy a nice drink and enjoying some bands.

Thanks! X

Originally Posted by DerbyTup

The following is taken from the Going Out section on here.

It's a venue in Sheffield who are advertising one of their events, presumably aiming at young people.

They mention the performing artists but follow it with this...

FREE ENTRY!!!

//// SOYO Live DRINKS OFFERS ////

£1 Shots / £1.50 Amstel Pint
£1.50 Spirit & Mixer
£3.50 Dbl Vodka Red Bull
£6 Desperados Bucket
£6 Cocktail Jugs
£50 Red Bull Vodka Boat
(Bottle of Vodka & 6 Red Bull)

Early Doors Offers 8pm - 10pm
£2 Cocktails / £5 Jugs / £5 House Wine

Lovely. X

And remember as always its FREE ENTRY!!!

What do you think this message conveys?

To me, this says, "come and get drunk - cheaply". It's symptomatic of the "drink culture" that is the bane of this country. "Binge Britain".

Now, you may see nothing wrong with it - it is, after all, "what young people do". But does that make it right?

Is it right to promote an event where the cheap alcohol is awarded star billing like this? Is the event about the performing artists, or the cheap booze?

I have worked for many years in regulated industries where companies and organisations have to take very great care over how they promote their business. They have to make sure they don't "mislead" or create the wrong impression.

Alcohol abuse is a SERIOUS problem in this country. It costs the taxpayer millions because it leads to many other health and social problems.

Maybe, one day, we will see this kind of advertising and promotion made illegal?

What do you think?

[DerbyTup]

Interesting range of responses so far to the original question, which allow me to remind is simply, "do you think they will make this kind of drinks offer illegal one day?"

So, it's not an attack on SOYO and I'm not "angry". Just like to make that clear for those who I have obviously confused already.

I use SOYO as an example because it appeared on here, but there are dozens, maybe hundreds or thousands more, all around us. Wetherspoons being an obvious example. Walk past any Wetherspoons bar and the main promotional message they have is how cheap the booze is.

The cost to YOU (and me) the taxpayer of treating alcohol related health issues is massive. In any one health authority it can run to millions of pounds a year.

No one is suggesting for one moment that alcohol be banned or people be demonised for going out and enjoying themselves - but should the promotion of cheap booze be done more responsibly? Does promoting cheap booze in this way encourage irresponsible drinking?

I think, maybe not today, but one day not too far away, the authorities will clamp down on this kind of promotion and it will have to be toned down. The advertising of an event will have to be about the "event" primarily - and not about the cheap booze to be had at the event.

That's a change I think would be welcome.

(just seen FMR's response after posting the above. I hope my response above makes things a bit clearer. In answer to the "what are you supposed to do?" question, my answer would be "reflect fair balance in your advertising of events". If this is a good place to go for the many reasons that have been stated then the advertising should reflect that and not focus on booze as the main reason/joint main reason to go. I speak with some experience of putting on major events in a highly regulated industry. At one time we would have been allowed to wax lyrical about the venue, or the dinners planned, or even the wine tours included. This was subsequently outlawed as it was felt to be attracting people to these events for the wrong reasons. The "event" had to stand on its own two feet on merit - not on ancillary benefits of being at the event. I think the same will happen to these kind of events - although it hasn't happened yet).

[Darth Vader]

Booze is so overpriced that many people are opting to stay in and it is killing british pubs.

The price of soft drinks is even more horrendous. The licensed industry should be more responsible, not by making alcohol even more ridiculously expensive, but by reducing the disgusting mark up on soft drinks. This would encourage more people to buy soft drinks, or maybe alternate at times between a soft drink and an alcoholic one. When a pint of coke is more expensive than a pint of cider, only a mug would buy the coke, if there weren't any other things to take in to consideration, eg driving, etc.

[Emmie92]

Making drinks more expensive would only penalise those that like to drink responsibly. Young people would still feel the need to get obliterated on a night out with thier friends - Alcohol is just a confidence booster and the more alcohol that they consume the more confident they become.

[gnvqsos]

Originally Posted by HotPhil

Bottle of vodka and 6 cans of Red Bull? Wow.

The problem with minimum pricing or clamping down on drinks promotions is that they'll penalise responsible drinkers and not actually tackle the problem. If someone wants to drink a bottle of vodka before heading out they'll just find it cheaper. Meanwhile those who just want a couple of halves will be hit in the wallet.
To my mind, all the correct laws are already in place. No need to further hassle those who drink responsibly.
Sadly, in this age I can't see it being too long before such measures are imposed.

Well whats wrong with asking other drinkers to pay a bit more?They are less likely to be induced to drink too much.If you have a couple of halves it may cost an extra 50pence which is hardly likely to induce insolvency-take the tough steps to sort the problem.