Nightclub under fire for free drinks

A nightclub in the Black Country has been criticised for launching a "free drinks" night amid concerns over booze-fuelled trouble in the area.

WS1 in Walsall is advertising the event Squeeze on a giant billboard in the town inviting revellers to drink free all night after paying a cover fee. It comes just a month after Walsall police secured an order banning any more pubs and clubs opening in the town centre in an effort to combat binge drinking which has been plaguing the town.

Councillor John O'Hare, leader of Walsall Council, said: "It is disappointing to see something like this.

"We are really left having to rely on people to drink responsibly and on the licensees to stop serving those people who are clearly not in any need for any more drink. I do not want to spoil anyone's fun but we must be responsible."

WS1 is the largest nightspot in Walsall town centre holding more than 1,100 clubbers and open into the small hours over the weekend, when it proves highly popular.

The club night called Squeeze is being advertised around the town on a giant trailer billboard and is already up-and-running with the next night on Friday.

It invites women to pay just £8 entry and drink all they can until 2am, while men have to pay £2 more than women to enjoy a limitless bar all evening.

WS1 Manager Nick Parkinson, defended the promotion. He said police and licensing officers had been monitoring the night since it started four weeks ago and had reported no problems.

"Our staff have set rules and it's certainly not there to encourage people to drink 25 pints, but an event that allows people to spend a set amount of money on a night out during what are difficult times," he said.

"We don't serve double measures, we don't serve people who have clearly had too much and we also give out free pizza on the night."

PC Brian Doyle, licensing officer at Walsall Police Station, said: "These sort of promotions are not the sort of thing the police condone, but it is not illegal."