Facebook drinks promotion angers campaigner

A popular student bar has been forced to dump a promotion offering its Facebook members the chance of free drinks for an hour and free entry to a party this weekend.

Police cautioned the privately owned Ferguson Bar on Massey University's North Shore campus after it was slammed by alcohol watchdogs as irresponsible.

When police told the bar's managers the promotion was in breach of the Sale of Liquor Act – which fines licensees up to $5000 for a promotion likely to encourage excess drinking – it prompted a furious online response.

"Thank you guys for being fans, we were going to shout you drinks for an hour! Sadly, mafia style, the police paid us a visit – apparently our Facebook page is that cool they check it out from time to time. Something about revoking our license [sic], anyway, we are now giving you guys a $1000 BAR TAB to do what you want with for one hour between 9 and 12! And of course drink specials on the night."

Alcohol Healthwatch director Rebecca Williams said the bar was flying in the face of host responsibility, the self-regulatory code, and the liquor licensing laws.

"They should be ashamed of themselves. If the police have told them their previous deal is unacceptable, and they've gone and done something similar, they've also flown in the face of the police."

North Shore Area Commander Inspector Les Paterson said police and the North Shore City Council licensing inspector had cautioned the bar's manager about the promotion. "We could have allowed him to fall into his own trap and then prosecuted him, but the sensible thing to do was provide education and guidance. The authorities were then somewhat surprised to see the online response, which was hardly in the spirit of co-operation and gratitude."

The bar has since altered its promotion. A staff member said the Facebook page would be pulled. The $1000 tab would be spent over the night instead of in an hour.

Massey University campus facilities manager Alistair Allan said yesterday the event went ahead without incident and less than $100 worth of vouchers were given away – "which could be used to buy anything from the bar, including soft drinks, juice, energy drinks, low alcoholic beers, food and alcohol".

He said free pizzas were given to patrons and police visited the bar to ensure the promotion was being suitably managed.

- © Fairfax NZ News