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Wetherspoon boss: Safer for teenagers to drink inside pubs
Simon English13 Mar 2009
The founder of budget pub chain JD Wetherspoon today warned of a growing "vodka-drinking culture" among teenagers.
Tim Martin fears that Britain's binge drinking problem may be spinning out of control as a direct result of government policies. He claimed that pressure to keep 16-year-olds out of pubs forces them on to the streets, exacerbating the problem. Mr Martin said that in the past teenagers tended to drink in pubs before they were legally supposed to, learning responsible drinking behaviour from their elders.
"The effect of making it far more difficult for 16- 18-year-olds to drink in pubs is that young people are drinking in circumstances in which no adults are present. The uneasy equilibrium which existed in the past was not perfect, but the current situation is worse and it is contributing to a vodka-drinking culture among young people," he said.
Mr Martin said attempts to crack down on serving under-18s "put a huge and unjustified pressure on pubs, the police and other authorities, while exacerbating the underlying issues".
He added that publicans and the police were made to "enforce laws which are disobeyed by almost everyone".
The pub entrepreneur's claims came as he unveiled results for the last six months, which suggest his company is defying the recession.
But he could leave himself open to charges of hypocrisy due to the cheap drink deals in his pubs, which recently unveiled a series of 99p a pint offers.
Mr Martin insisted that pubs were not to blame for binge drinking. High sales of cheap alcohol at supermarkets appeared to be driving the new phenomena of "pre-loading" - where young revellers drink heavily at home before going out to a pub or club.
Wetherspoon sales in the six months to the end of January rose 6.5 per cent to £469 million.
Profits slipped 4.7 per cent to £42 million but the group is well placed to benefit as rivals are forced out of business.
About six pubs close every day - a pace of decline which, if it were to continue, would see the last British pub call time in 2037.
Wetherspoon pubs are best known for offering cheap food and drinks, no music and clean lavatories. The company plans to add to its portfolio of 714 pubs this year..
Reader views (4)
I grew up drinking tea; I still drink tea; and remain tee-total.
OK its boring; but cheap; and I still have good kidneys and a fine liver.
And being sober; I can still dance all night without falling flat on my face.
Bring back tea-rooms and pie and mash shops; you don't know what you are missing; when you are drunk.
- Mickyinlondon, london, 14/03/2009 12:55
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Goon on Wetherspoons for making life easier for us all. Where else can you have a decent feed, a proper priced pint and relax in this country? They have protected us, the consumer from bars that fleece its customers. Well done on the profit rise during this difficult time.
- Clint Heine, Shepherds Bush, 13/03/2009 16:57
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Well he would say this wouldn't he? He stands to benefit more than anyone if kids are allowed to drink with civilised society in our pubs, instead of scavenging off older kids in our off licences
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 13/03/2009 16:41
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I agree with his comments on underage drinkers being forced onto the streets where they do not learn to drink responsibly. I started drinking in pubs at 15 and you behaved yourself as you were scared that you would be chucked out and also it made you feel like an adult and did not drink yourself silly.
- George, London, 13/03/2009 15:43
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