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An "all-you-can-drink" student night has been roundly criticised by health campaigners for encouraging binge-drinking.
A central London bar is launching the event tonight and offering students as much alcohol as they want for £15.
It comes after the British Medical Association this month called for a ban on all promotional deals on alcohol. The Government's chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, also demanded this year a 50p minimum price for a unit of drink.
The Den & Centro bar near Tottenham Court Road describes the promotion as "London's only all-you-can-drink student night". The event, called Skint!, is aimed at students and will take place every Monday between 10pm and 3am.
Its facebook site states: "Drink as much as you WANT Drink as much as you CAN Drink as much as you DARE ALL NIGHT LONG !!!" Students who pay £15 for a wristband will be given unlimited beer, wine, shots and spirits.
Dr Ken Checinski, senior lecturer at St George's Medical School, said: "This encourages irresponsible behaviour and for young people to drink excessively."
Dr Rachel Seabrook from the Institute of Alcohol Studies said: "This promotion is totally irresponsible."
But Luke Barnes, who runs Main Room Events, which is organising the night, said: "We understand that students are a vulnerable group as they move to university and we take our responsibility seriously. We are doing all we can to look after them.
"Everyone will be handed a 'rule book' reminding them to eat, drink water and look after each other. Nobody will be served more than one drink at a time. The idea is to give students a night they would not otherwise be able to afford."
