Southampton bar scraps cheap drink promotion

Penny a pint plan has been scrapped Penny a pint plan has been scrapped

A Southampton bar’s plans to stage a controversial 1p per pint promotion have been scrapped after inquiries by the Daily Echo.

Student venue So Bar in Bevois Valley Road was planning on selling Irish brand Guinness for 1p per pint as part of its St Patrick’s Day celebrations next month.

But the plan angered other licensees who were targeted by police and council officials last year for offering cheap drink prices aimed at students, which had seen a rise in crime and disorder incidents.

Now the So Bar has cancelled its promotion following a meeting with police after the Echo started to look into the concerns of other landlords.

So Bar had advertised the event on Wednesday, March 16, through posters and online through a social networking site with hundreds of people expected to attend.

Bar manager Josh Sinnett said: “We did have an offer where we were going to sell pints of Guinness for 1p a pint when bought with another drink.

We work closely with the licencees in the city who are keen, as we are, to cut cime and antisocial behaviour associated with the night-time economy in the city

Chief Insp Alison Scott

“But after talking with licensing officials we have withdrawn the offer and will now be selling it at its normal price.

“We have taken down the posters and removed the Facebook page.

“We are a strictly student venue who always work well with licensing and the police, and we don’t have any trouble here.”

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Bars and clubs across the city centre came under fire from the council and police last year for offering cheap drink prices aimed at students, which had seen a rise in crime and disorder incidents as Tuesdays became busier nights than those at the weekend.

In the past few months police, the council and licensees have been working together to reduce alcohol-related crime and other problems with a number of schemes including the appointment of a night-time economy manager, a minimum price limit on drinks and the introduction of an In Case of Emergency Bus which helps vulnerable people on a night out.

Venue owners have also signed up to an expansion of Licensing Links so late night licensees can have greater control and communication around the night-time.

Last month the Daily Echo also revealed plans to introduce a yellow card system which would see a ban from one, ban from all policy for drunken troublemakers.

Chief Insp Alison Scott said: “We work closely with the licencees in the city who are keen, as we are, to cut cime and antisocial behaviour associated with the night-time economy in the city. With that in mind we spoke to the So Bar about their promotion and as responsible licensees they have decided to withdraw it – a move that we welcome.”

Comments(44)

Scrutinizer says...
10:36am Fri 26 Feb 10

Good. Well done the police, and the council (for a change!). Booze, especially when it's at those very cheap prices, only encourages the very British 'disease' of p*sshead behaviour, which is responsible for so much trouble in our society.

bigfella says...
10:45am Fri 26 Feb 10

hold the front page! Breaking News....Common sense prevails shocker! More at 10...

Polygonia says...
11:38am Fri 26 Feb 10

Whatever has been done has made no difference whatsoever in fact drunken mayhem by students has been the worst ever experienced
on the streets that lead from the Night Time Economy Hub London Road, Bedford Place.
It is worse on Tuesday nights but there are promotions on Sundays that make that another night to be dreaded.
It could only be stopped if police patrol on foot along the roads where students and others make their way home.
Perhaps Ms Scott has been out at night and seen it for herself in Bellevue Road, Bevois Valley, Henstead Road and other streets in Polygon ?
If so she will know that things are getting worse,not better.

Ted Rogers says...
11:47am Fri 26 Feb 10

Polygonia wrote:
Whatever has been done has made no difference whatsoever in fact drunken mayhem by students has been the worst ever experienced on the streets that lead from the Night Time Economy Hub London Road, Bedford Place. It is worse on Tuesday nights but there are promotions on Sundays that make that another night to be dreaded. It could only be stopped if police patrol on foot along the roads where students and others make their way home. Perhaps Ms Scott has been out at night and seen it for herself in Bellevue Road, Bevois Valley, Henstead Road and other streets in Polygon ? If so she will know that things are getting worse,not better.
It could be worse; you could have someone like that lorraine Barter living next door to you! Moaning all the time, looking over you and your friends like a mini polygon big brother....

Facewagon says...
11:52am Fri 26 Feb 10

Ted Rogers wrote:
Polygonia wrote: Whatever has been done has made no difference whatsoever in fact drunken mayhem by students has been the worst ever experienced on the streets that lead from the Night Time Economy Hub London Road, Bedford Place. It is worse on Tuesday nights but there are promotions on Sundays that make that another night to be dreaded. It could only be stopped if police patrol on foot along the roads where students and others make their way home. Perhaps Ms Scott has been out at night and seen it for herself in Bellevue Road, Bevois Valley, Henstead Road and other streets in Polygon ? If so she will know that things are getting worse,not better.
It could be worse; you could have someone like that lorraine Barter living next door to you! Moaning all the time, looking over you and your friends like a mini polygon big brother....
Not to mention going through your bins.

johnbullas says...
11:59am Fri 26 Feb 10

"Now the So Bar has cancelled its promotion following a meeting with police after the Echo started to look into the concerns of other landlords. "

... I would guess these concerns were primarily..

"If SoBar go ahead I won't sell any of MY Guiness that night"

echo-thevoiceofthemoaningclass says...
12:15pm Fri 26 Feb 10

"cheap drink prices aimed at students, which had seen a rise in crime and disorder incidents."

where is your evidence for this? Do you have figures for student arrests? Or as i suspect, is the problem the mis-management of bedford place venues? When 'student' nights are frequented by non-students who drink too much and cause trouble.

The 1p a pint promotion ran last year without any problems at all. Any student will tell you that nobody goes to get drunk on Guinness, the 1p promotion is not about selling drinks at 1p so everyone can get smashed. It simply means that when you buy a round of drinks you get a guinness as well, happy paddys day!

'concerns of landlords' is all about competition, they know that last years paddys day at sobar was awesome and that again this year they're not going to make any money. TOUGH.

yakovlev says...
12:22pm Fri 26 Feb 10

When will the Daily Echo cease to be a proxy for ant-competition PR due to jealous landlords???!!!! No-one can claim that 1p a Guinness will lead to violence, students don't really drink Guinness and stocks would clearly have been limited, surely?! And what on earth is this about Bevois Valley being part of the Polygon. Bedford Place bars and Bevois Valley cannot be compared. ECHO GET SOME POLICE FIGURES TO BACK UP YOUR WORTHLESS CLAIMS.

rjfmusic says...
12:24pm Fri 26 Feb 10

We work closely with the licencees in the city who are keen, as we are, to cut cime and antisocial behaviour associated with the night-time economy in the cityShame that the Echo thinks so little of people that it feels obliged to try and control their drinking habits. Does the Echo only employ teetotal staff?

Bevois Valley Resident says...
12:31pm Fri 26 Feb 10

The mid-week noise levels in the residential roads off Bevois Valley seem to have got much worse so I'm delighted this promotion has been called off.
I don't how much crime there is as a result of drinking but it's pretty clear that there's an increase in the number of idiots who think it's hillarious to knock on doors and run away, walk over cars etc.
I choose to live in the city centre and accept that there's going to be some passing noise at the weekend but measures to cut heavy drinking in the week in largely residential areas such as Bevois Valley (which is what getting a free pint with your drink would result in in the vast majority of cases) are definitely a good thing.

freefinker says...
12:32pm Fri 26 Feb 10

Facewagon wrote:
Ted Rogers wrote:
Polygonia wrote: Whatever has been done has made no difference whatsoever in fact drunken mayhem by students has been the worst ever experienced on the streets that lead from the Night Time Economy Hub London Road, Bedford Place. It is worse on Tuesday nights but there are promotions on Sundays that make that another night to be dreaded. It could only be stopped if police patrol on foot along the roads where students and others make their way home. Perhaps Ms Scott has been out at night and seen it for herself in Bellevue Road, Bevois Valley, Henstead Road and other streets in Polygon ? If so she will know that things are getting worse,not better.
It could be worse; you could have someone like that lorraine Barter living next door to you! Moaning all the time, looking over you and your friends like a mini polygon big brother....
Not to mention going through your bins.
I'm convinced Polygonia IS Lorraine Barter - have been for some while.
.
Ha, s/w = name-lack

yakovlev says...
12:41pm Fri 26 Feb 10

It is almost as if you all DESPISE us students who keep the economy of Southampton afloat!!! Do you even realise how much money we bring to the city? You would think that with times being as hard as they are now, the citizens of Southampton would be happy to let students drink during the week and put some money into the local economy.

Duck123 says...
12:46pm Fri 26 Feb 10

yakovlev wrote:
When will the Daily Echo cease to be a proxy for ant-competition PR due to jealous landlords???!!!! No-one can claim that 1p a Guinness will lead to violence, students don't really drink Guinness and stocks would clearly have been limited, surely?! And what on earth is this about Bevois Valley being part of the Polygon. Bedford Place bars and Bevois Valley cannot be compared. ECHO GET SOME POLICE FIGURES TO BACK UP YOUR WORTHLESS CLAIMS.
Exactly this. I worked at Sobar last year during this promotion and as the Echo has failed to report the stock was limited to 50 pints. One per customer and with another drink. So in essence the cost of the drink was actually about £1.40 per drink when split with another pint.

So as usual the media loves to blow things out of control and other jealous landlords have obviously whinged about it!

Last year on this date there was no trouble that i was aware of??

I doubt the Echo will print the statistics above in the paper about the limited stock.

Bevois Valley Resident says...
12:46pm Fri 26 Feb 10

yakovlev wrote:
It is almost as if you all DESPISE us students who keep the economy of Southampton afloat!!! Do you even realise how much money we bring to the city? You would think that with times being as hard as they are now, the citizens of Southampton would be happy to let students drink during the week and put some money into the local economy.
Getting plastered by spending a penny per pint wouldn't really be putting a lot of money into the local economy!

Duck123 says...
12:48pm Fri 26 Feb 10

Bevois Valley Resident wrote:
yakovlev wrote:
It is almost as if you all DESPISE us students who keep the economy of Southampton afloat!!! Do you even realise how much money we bring to the city? You would think that with times being as hard as they are now, the citizens of Southampton would be happy to let students drink during the week and put some money into the local economy.
Getting plastered by spending a penny per pint wouldn't really be putting a lot of money into the local economy!
Seriously!!! Last year it was only 50 pints!!!

Tesco sell booze cheaper than all Southampton bars, no one want to take them on??? Didnt think so!

Tottonion says...
12:59pm Fri 26 Feb 10

Oy Yakovlev
So you bring money to this city? The car body shops make the money after drunken students supposidley bringing money into the city, walk over and kick residents cars on their drunken way home. Go and bring money into your home town.

legally blonde says...
12:59pm Fri 26 Feb 10

This is just another typical example of people who don't understand students kicking up a fuss about nothing and completely missing the point. You can't compare Sobar with bars in town, because the bars in town accept non-students, who inevitably cause the majority of the problems.
As a frequent visitor of Sobar I can honestly say that there are never any problems with drunken or violent behaviour, and proposed 1p Guinness would have had absolutely no effect on this. Indeed I attended the event last year and nobody was any drunker than usual. Any "concerns" raised by local pubs were purely financial, as they know how popular Sobar is!

NightDriver says...
1:04pm Fri 26 Feb 10

As a night time taxi driver, I get to see first hand on a regular basis the state these students get into after a night out on cheap booze, and it's truly shocking. A lot of bars around Town have regular promotional nights aimed at students, with pints and shots costing as little as 50p and when you include drugs, which a worryingly high proportion of students seem to take, it's no surprise some of them get totally wasted.

I have to say though, when it comes to violent disorder, students seem less of a problem than other groups of people out there (local chavs and the like). Most drunk students just get up to antisocial 'mischief' such as overturning streets of wheelie bins, throwing bags of rubbish, moving traffic cones and signs, stealing estate agents 'for sale' boards and generally larking about pushing each other around in shopping trolleys.

I don't want to paint a picture that all all students are like this, in fact I find the majority are reasonably well behaved and polite, most of the time. But as with anything else in life, theres alway a minority who cause trouble.

Scrutinizer says...
1:24pm Fri 26 Feb 10

legally blonde wrote:
This is just another typical example of people who don't understand students kicking up a fuss about nothing and completely missing the point. You can't compare Sobar with bars in town, because the bars in town accept non-students, who inevitably cause the majority of the problems. As a frequent visitor of Sobar I can honestly say that there are never any problems with drunken or violent behaviour, and proposed 1p Guinness would have had absolutely no effect on this. Indeed I attended the event last year and nobody was any drunker than usual. Any "concerns" raised by local pubs were purely financial, as they know how popular Sobar is!
Most students don't cause most of the trouble - but the very cheap booze still encourages drinking addiction, and stupid, anti-social and sometimes dangerous behaviour, whether illegal or not! Also, quote: 'any drunker than usual' etc! What a silly moronic statement, that is! Wise up to the damage excessive boozing costs society, not least in the contexts of people's health, financially, and in reasonably respectful behaviour towards others and their property! You're on 'Happy Hour' time on here, are you 'legally blonde'?

Ken Hutchinson says...
1:27pm Fri 26 Feb 10

freefinker wrote:
Facewagon wrote:
Ted Rogers wrote:
Polygonia wrote: Whatever has been done has made no difference whatsoever in fact drunken mayhem by students has been the worst ever experienced on the streets that lead from the Night Time Economy Hub London Road, Bedford Place. It is worse on Tuesday nights but there are promotions on Sundays that make that another night to be dreaded. It could only be stopped if police patrol on foot along the roads where students and others make their way home. Perhaps Ms Scott has been out at night and seen it for herself in Bellevue Road, Bevois Valley, Henstead Road and other streets in Polygon ? If so she will know that things are getting worse,not better.
It could be worse; you could have someone like that lorraine Barter living next door to you! Moaning all the time, looking over you and your friends like a mini polygon big brother....
Not to mention going through your bins.
I'm convinced Polygonia IS Lorraine Barter - have been for some while. . Ha, s/w = name-lack
No $hit Sherlock!

legally blonde says...
1:44pm Fri 26 Feb 10

Scrutinizer wrote:
legally blonde wrote:
This is just another typical example of people who don't understand students kicking up a fuss about nothing and completely missing the point. You can't compare Sobar with bars in town, because the bars in town accept non-students, who inevitably cause the majority of the problems. As a frequent visitor of Sobar I can honestly say that there are never any problems with drunken or violent behaviour, and proposed 1p Guinness would have had absolutely no effect on this. Indeed I attended the event last year and nobody was any drunker than usual. Any "concerns" raised by local pubs were purely financial, as they know how popular Sobar is!
Most students don't cause most of the trouble - but the very cheap booze still encourages drinking addiction, and stupid, anti-social and sometimes dangerous behaviour, whether illegal or not! Also, quote: 'any drunker than usual' etc! What a silly moronic statement, that is! Wise up to the damage excessive boozing costs society, not least in the contexts of people's health, financially, and in reasonably respectful behaviour towards others and their property! You're on 'Happy Hour' time on here, are you 'legally blonde'?
Firstly, I am perfectly aware of the problems alcohol has caused in our society. The point I am making here is that it is not the students causing all the problems. I have never vandalised or damaged anyone's property after a night out and neither have anyone I know. I think it is ridiculous that Sobar is being made out to be the bad guy, when in fact it is one of the most responsibly run bars in Southampton. I agree that there is an alcohol problem in Britain that needs to be sorted, but preventing students celebrating St Patrick's day with a cheap pint of Guinness is not going to solve anything. As someone has already mentioned, supermarkets and off-licences sell extremely cheap alcohol, and no one seems bothered about this.
Secondly, I don't appreciate my statement being referred to as "moronic" and being told to "wise up", especially as in all likelihood my intelligence is far superior to yours. Thirdly, your "legally blonde" joke fails to amuse me; it just shows what an arrogant individual you are.

legally blonde says...
1:49pm Fri 26 Feb 10

Tottonion wrote:
Oy Yakovlev
So you bring money to this city? The car body shops make the money after drunken students supposidley bringing money into the city, walk over and kick residents cars on their drunken way home. Go and bring money into your home town.
You should consider becoming a student yourself, perhaps then you'd be able to spell "supposedly" without any trouble, and learn to keep racist comments to yourself.

johnbullas says...
1:56pm Fri 26 Feb 10

It would be an interesting experiment to compare how people talk to complete strangers on line (i.e. insult each other) with how they would talk face to face with the same people, I think the phrase is "keyboard hero" :)

Scrutinizer says...
1:57pm Fri 26 Feb 10

echo-thevoiceofthemo
aningclass
wrote:
"cheap drink prices aimed at students, which had seen a rise in crime and disorder incidents." where is your evidence for this? Do you have figures for student arrests? Or as i suspect, is the problem the mis-management of bedford place venues? When 'student' nights are frequented by non-students who drink too much and cause trouble. The 1p a pint promotion ran last year without any problems at all. Any student will tell you that nobody goes to get drunk on Guinness, the 1p promotion is not about selling drinks at 1p so everyone can get smashed. It simply means that when you buy a round of drinks you get a guinness as well, happy paddys day! 'concerns of landlords' is all about competition, they know that last years paddys day at sobar was awesome and that again this year they're not going to make any money. TOUGH.
You're another one who lives in your own little fantasy world! Quote: 'Any student will tell you that nobody goes to get drunk on Guinness' etc! What a load of B.S. that is! You need to get out more! Another one on the ol' 'Happy Hour' stuff!

NightDriver says...
2:00pm Fri 26 Feb 10

legally blonde wrote:
This is just another typical example of people who don't understand students kicking up a fuss about nothing and completely missing the point. You can't compare Sobar with bars in town, because the bars in town accept non-students, who inevitably cause the majority of the problems. As a frequent visitor of Sobar I can honestly say that there are never any problems with drunken or violent behaviour, and proposed 1p Guinness would have had absolutely no effect on this. Indeed I attended the event last year and nobody was any drunker than usual. Any "concerns" raised by local pubs were purely financial, as they know how popular Sobar is!
It would seem that I'm a more observant visitor to the streets outside SoBar than you, or maybe you're usually too wasted to notice?? You say, quote: "...I can honestly say that there are never any problems with drunken or violent behaviour..." Whilst I agree that incidents of violent behaviour may be relatively uncommon, I have seen numerous scuffles outside there (and Jesters) including one instance where I had to swerve to avoid a group where the fight had spilled onto the road. As for drunken behaviour, anyone who sits outside and observes (as I do when waiting on the Taxi rank) would see these are a nightly occurrence at these student venues. What never ceases to amaze me is how many drunk students will just pi$$ or puke in the doorways (including girls) rather than go elsewhere or throw their 'Chick 'o Land' takeaway debris on the floor before getting into a taxi, despite a wheelie bin being a few feet away. Any weeeknight when Sobar and Jesters are busy will see a trail of destruction and mess leading directly back through Portswood to the various Student digs and Halls of residence... and the main cause of this is cheap booze being consumed by a minority that have one objective when they go out... to get as wasted as possible!

Scrutinizer says...
2:13pm Fri 26 Feb 10

We work closely with the licencees in the city who are keen, as we are, to cut cime and antisocial behaviour associated with the night-time economy in the cityDear legal - but DUMB blonde, You've just proved what an inferior person you are dear...Oh and...by the way... YOU really do happen to AMUSE ME!!! ;-))) You wouldn't happen to be a certain type of anti -social student yourself by any chance, now would you, posing as...JUST THAT?!

Lone Ranger says...
2:21pm Fri 26 Feb 10

yakovlev wrote:
It is almost as if you all DESPISE us students who keep the economy of Southampton afloat!!! Do you even realise how much money we bring to the city? You would think that with times being as hard as they are now, the citizens of Southampton would be happy to let students drink during the week and put some money into the local economy.
Dear yakovlev,
On behalf of the resdidents and taxpayers of this once fine City Thank You for keeping our exonomy afloat.
.
But seriously now, we dont despise the majority of students in this City just the complete ar$h0les that infest the pubs and clubs, get well and truly hammered, cause noise at 2am, anti-social behaviour, chuck up, walk on cars, take up police and council employees time and use my tax to pay for it.
.
If one of them is you then we despise you. If you are not then you are welcome.

Scrutinizer says...
2:29pm Fri 26 Feb 10

NightDriver wrote:
legally blonde wrote: This is just another typical example of people who don't understand students kicking up a fuss about nothing and completely missing the point. You can't compare Sobar with bars in town, because the bars in town accept non-students, who inevitably cause the majority of the problems. As a frequent visitor of Sobar I can honestly say that there are never any problems with drunken or violent behaviour, and proposed 1p Guinness would have had absolutely no effect on this. Indeed I attended the event last year and nobody was any drunker than usual. Any "concerns" raised by local pubs were purely financial, as they know how popular Sobar is!
It would seem that I'm a more observant visitor to the streets outside SoBar than you, or maybe you're usually too wasted to notice?? You say, quote: "...I can honestly say that there are never any problems with drunken or violent behaviour..." Whilst I agree that incidents of violent behaviour may be relatively uncommon, I have seen numerous scuffles outside there (and Jesters) including one instance where I had to swerve to avoid a group where the fight had spilled onto the road. As for drunken behaviour, anyone who sits outside and observes (as I do when waiting on the Taxi rank) would see these are a nightly occurrence at these student venues. What never ceases to amaze me is how many drunk students will just pi$$ or puke in the doorways (including girls) rather than go elsewhere or throw their 'Chick 'o Land' takeaway debris on the floor before getting into a taxi, despite a wheelie bin being a few feet away. Any weeeknight when Sobar and Jesters are busy will see a trail of destruction and mess leading directly back through Portswood to the various Student digs and Halls of residence... and the main cause of this is cheap booze being consumed by a minority that have one objective when they go out... to get as wasted as possible!
Legally DUMB, One of my points above, as supported by 'NightDriver's experience. Someone who obviously has experience 'in the field' so to speak, or are you about to make some irrational accusation of prejudice against myself and NightDriver now? I can almost hear it hop, skipping and jumping off your tongue already! "But you're both anti-student this and that...". Dear, dear...

yakovlev says...
3:25pm Fri 26 Feb 10

I wonder how man students even like Guinness?!!! Probably hardly any. Surely an upturned wheelie bin is less of a price to pay then the bottling incidents or other such violence that occurs in Bedford Place! There are obviously two sides to this argument but I think we can all see that students are here to stay in this city, students will go drinking and partying, and 1p a Guinness isn't going to raise the city to the ground. Cheap alcohol is only a problem when a venue is not mananged correctly.

NightDriver says...
3:51pm Fri 26 Feb 10

Personally, I think banning a 1p pint of guinness, especially when given the restrictions surrounding the offer, will make absolutely no difference whatsoever. What is certain though is that with or without this ban, many thousands of students and other members of the general public will be out celebrating St Patrick's day and a few of them will get as bladdered as possible on the cheapest drinks they can find... the ensuing mayhem that follows will be no different than any other night out in Southampton, with fights and drunken anti social behaviour occurring all over Town because, at the end of the day, that's exactly what a minority of (generally) young adults see as a good night out!
And Yakolev... to pick up on your comment about "an upturned wheelie bin"... have you ever noticed just how many upturned wheelie bins, with their contents strewn across the street, there are after a student night out? Probably not, because like a lot of people, like you perhaps, are just too wasted to notice what really goes on.
I would like to point out that I am not anti student in any way, in fact I fully appreciate the fact that Southampton's night time economy (including my income) is driven primarily by students these days. Anyone who doubts that should perhaps take a night time trip into Town when the students are away at the end of term and see just how much of a ghost town Southampton really is. However, there is one inescapable fact (perhaps only validated by witnessing with my own eyes) that students are indeed responsible for a lot of the damage, mess and overall anti social behaviour, particularly in the Bevois Valley and Portswood area, because they are the only people (apart from taxi drivers and hookers) that are about at that time of night!

Smilzo says...
5:01pm Fri 26 Feb 10

"An upturned wheelie bin is less of price to pay than the bottling incidents or other such violence..."?

How odd. Is it now compulsory that after drinking, either bins get upturned or people get assaulted? Maybe I should get out more. Why should other people have to pay any price at all for out-of-control drinkers' lack of consideration?

By all means have a drink and a laugh, but don't take it out on other people. If people (students or otherwise) can't control themselves enough to NOT indulge in anti-social behaviour after drinking, then they should either cut down their consumption or stay at home.

yakovlev says...
5:38pm Fri 26 Feb 10

Oh come on, everyone that goes out is NOT involved in that sort of behaviour, if that was the case then the government would have no choice but to take action. How immature. Nightdriver seems to be forgetting that without these people out drinking he would very abruptly be out of a job. He seems more than happy to keep drinking from this poisoned chalice he is proclaiming.

Scrutinizer says...
5:41pm Fri 26 Feb 10

yakovlev wrote:
I wonder how man students even like Guinness?!!! Probably hardly any. Surely an upturned wheelie bin is less of a price to pay then the bottling incidents or other such violence that occurs in Bedford Place! There are obviously two sides to this argument but I think we can all see that students are here to stay in this city, students will go drinking and partying, and 1p a Guinness isn't going to raise the city to the ground. Cheap alcohol is only a problem when a venue is not mananged correctly.
What? Are you quite all there comrade 'yakolev'?! Quote: 'Surely an upturned wheelie bin is less of a price to pay then the bottling incidents or other such violence that occurs in Bedford Place!' Well yes, oka-y, in respect of seriousness. But you think, do you, that upturned wheelie bins and such, no doubt what you would term 'low level' crime ('CRIME', which is what it is, by the way) is acceptable? You think, do you, that the residents of eg the Polygon area think it's fine in their back yard, just so long as they're no bottling incidents, eh?! You speak of it as though it's almost a trivial matter. I'll tell you what, come back down to earth Cosmonaut Yakolev, will you?! You're a little too 'spaced out' for your mission!

Oh, and you've obviously not met many Irish student rugby fans, many of whom, mainly guys, love their Guinness, and even more so especially on St. Patrick's Day! No harm necessarily in that of course, so long as they drink modestly and withinm healthy limits (which some don't) and BEHAVE, which most do. Anyway, a Happy 'Happy Hour' to you too!

Vashe zdarov'ye!

yakovlev says...
5:41pm Fri 26 Feb 10

And the authorities are in no position to ban an offer, they can only advise. This is laid down in european competition law surely?

Polygonia says...
5:53pm Fri 26 Feb 10

NightDriver wrote:
As a night time taxi driver, I get to see first hand on a regular basis the state these students get into after a night out on cheap booze, and it's truly shocking. A lot of bars around Town have regular promotional nights aimed at students, with pints and shots costing as little as 50p and when you include drugs, which a worryingly high proportion of students seem to take, it's no surprise some of them get totally wasted. I have to say though, when it comes to violent disorder, students seem less of a problem than other groups of people out there (local chavs and the like). Most drunk students just get up to antisocial 'mischief' such as overturning streets of wheelie bins, throwing bags of rubbish, moving traffic cones and signs, stealing estate agents 'for sale' boards and generally larking about pushing each other around in shopping trolleys. I don't want to paint a picture that all all students are like this, in fact I find the majority are reasonably well behaved and polite, most of the time. But as with anything else in life, theres alway a minority who cause trouble.
A very accurate report, but anti social mischief causes long term sleep deprivation and stress and drives people to flee the affected areas
You have to live near tothe "drinking holes" or be out at night to see how bad things are.
The people who lived in the houses now occupied by drinkers /students spent money in the city all year round round so the city gets no extra benefit at all.
How do we know it is just a minority ?
If citizens suffer street mayhem every night, and they do, then the minority must be repeat offenders. ?
The number of arrests /or lack of arrests only proves that the police spend too much time in the Clubbing roads and not protecting citizens in the side streets.

Scrutinizer says...
6:12pm Fri 26 Feb 10

Polygonia wrote:
NightDriver wrote: As a night time taxi driver, I get to see first hand on a regular basis the state these students get into after a night out on cheap booze, and it's truly shocking. A lot of bars around Town have regular promotional nights aimed at students, with pints and shots costing as little as 50p and when you include drugs, which a worryingly high proportion of students seem to take, it's no surprise some of them get totally wasted. I have to say though, when it comes to violent disorder, students seem less of a problem than other groups of people out there (local chavs and the like). Most drunk students just get up to antisocial 'mischief' such as overturning streets of wheelie bins, throwing bags of rubbish, moving traffic cones and signs, stealing estate agents 'for sale' boards and generally larking about pushing each other around in shopping trolleys. I don't want to paint a picture that all all students are like this, in fact I find the majority are reasonably well behaved and polite, most of the time. But as with anything else in life, theres alway a minority who cause trouble.
A very accurate report, but anti social mischief causes long term sleep deprivation and stress and drives people to flee the affected areas You have to live near tothe "drinking holes" or be out at night to see how bad things are. The people who lived in the houses now occupied by drinkers /students spent money in the city all year round round so the city gets no extra benefit at all. How do we know it is just a minority ? If citizens suffer street mayhem every night, and they do, then the minority must be repeat offenders. ? The number of arrests /or lack of arrests only proves that the police spend too much time in the Clubbing roads and not protecting citizens in the side streets.
Well said Polygonia. I agree entirely with you on this.

bravebeth says...
6:41pm Fri 26 Feb 10

We work closely with the licencees in the city who are keen, as we are, to cut cime and antisocial behaviour associated with the night-time economy in the cityPortswood is a nightmare during term times. It is a complete disgrace. The litter is appalling. It is not funny to steal hubcaps, destroy bicycles, destroy walls and house owners' property.
Students do not pay council tax. Students seem to expect discounts everywhere yet they can afford to get drunk every week.
These discounts should be for everybody not just students especially the hard working people.

aflooks13 says...
8:52pm Fri 26 Feb 10

We work closely with the licencees in the city who are keen, as we are, to cut cime and antisocial behaviour associated with the night-time economy in the cityi can honestly say the owners of the sobar are not irresponsible, as to sell 1p a pint all night, they have one ticket each student, who may i add are not trouble makers, but are simply out for a trouble free night, the echo needs to look futher than to target students who bring in enough revenue to southampton to keep the bars and jobs of people going and not make more redundancies, which i am sure that under labour goverment would like to see,

NightDriver says...
9:46pm Fri 26 Feb 10

yakovlev wrote:
Oh come on, everyone that goes out is NOT involved in that sort of behaviour, if that was the case then the government would have no choice but to take action. How immature. Nightdriver seems to be forgetting that without these people out drinking he would very abruptly be out of a job. He seems more than happy to keep drinking from this poisoned chalice he is proclaiming.
Ummm... not quite my friend!... You don't quite get it do you? Who said everyone was involved in that sort of behaviour anyway? As I've mentioned in my previous posts, I am not anti-student as I find the majority of them reasonably well behaved and polite. The ones who undertake antisocial behaviour on their way home, throwing wheelie bins and rubbish around, etc, are hardly the ones I make my living from are they? The streets of Southampton may well be quieter if students were not out on the town drinking, but I'd hardly be out of a job (I'm self employed as most taxi drivers are by the way) I survive well enough when you all disappear for your summer hols anyway!

Condor Man says...
10:37pm Fri 26 Feb 10

I can't understand the fascination with St Patrick's Day. My parents went to Dublin last year and were appalled at the overt Anti-English sentiment they got off their Irish tour guides. As an Englishman I'd like to see more emphasis on our culture and not a means of flogging beer.

Scrutinizer says...
11:54pm Fri 26 Feb 10

Condor Man wrote:
I can't understand the fascination with St Patrick's Day. My parents went to Dublin last year and were appalled at the overt Anti-English sentiment they got off their Irish tour guides. As an Englishman I'd like to see more emphasis on our culture and not a means of flogging beer.
Yes, well I would say, obviously St. Patrick's Day is a day of national self-awareness occassion for Irish people, as much as anything. I have known plenty of Irish men (almost exclusively men it has to be said) who just like the boozing that is so closely associated with it. I too have been to Ireland (both N.I. and the Republic), and found the place one of the friendliest places one could ever wish to visit. I've never been there on St. Patrick's Day though, but I have heard a couple of accounts similar to your parents'. I too, as an Englishman, would like to see more emphasis on 'our culture', which has been so enriched by people of an extremely diverse heritage, many of whom are not originally from here. However, I'd hope alcohol abuse would not be part of it ou culture, but I'm afraid to say the opposite is now blatantly, shamefully true, and it is not a view only held by myself and many of my fellow English men and women, but is a perception sadly, also widely held by foreigners too.

Granny_Smith says...
1:39am Sat 27 Feb 10

NightDriver wrote:
yakovlev wrote: Oh come on, everyone that goes out is NOT involved in that sort of behaviour, if that was the case then the government would have no choice but to take action. How immature. Nightdriver seems to be forgetting that without these people out drinking he would very abruptly be out of a job. He seems more than happy to keep drinking from this poisoned chalice he is proclaiming.
Ummm... not quite my friend!... You don't quite get it do you? Who said everyone was involved in that sort of behaviour anyway? As I've mentioned in my previous posts, I am not anti-student as I find the majority of them reasonably well behaved and polite. The ones who undertake antisocial behaviour on their way home, throwing wheelie bins and rubbish around, etc, are hardly the ones I make my living from are they? The streets of Southampton may well be quieter if students were not out on the town drinking, but I'd hardly be out of a job (I'm self employed as most taxi drivers are by the way) I survive well enough when you all disappear for your summer hols anyway!
It’s a real shame that NightDriver is articulate and balanced otherwise they could write their own column in the Daily Echo. A sober voyeur of our nocturnal mayhem like many other taxi drivers around the world.

We have the world renowned University of Southampton, ranked amongst the world’s top 100. This would imply, we hope, that the students themselves rank amongst the world’s top 100…… Then we have Solent University, formerly the Institute of Higher Education amongst other names. This college used to be world renowned for its maritime courses at Warsash, and then the accountants moved in. Matriculation requirements got flushed down the pan, if you could open the door you got on the course. They began employing some of their worst, hence unemployed, graduates as lecturers. Sort of like inbreeding with the runt of the litter. The litters got big enough that were finally awarded university status. No prizes for guessing which end of the spectrum these Solent students fall into.

Just the rantings of another keyboard hero….

aflooks13 says...
1:56am Sat 27 Feb 10

bravebeth wrote:
We work closely with the licencees in the city who are keen, as we are, to cut cime and antisocial behaviour associated with the night-time economy in the cityPortswood is a nightmare during term times. It is a complete disgrace. The litter is appalling. It is not funny to steal hubcaps, destroy bicycles, destroy walls and house owners' property. Students do not pay council tax. Students seem to expect discounts everywhere yet they can afford to get drunk every week. These discounts should be for everybody not just students especially the hard working people.
my personal opinion of sobar is highly rated, the door staff are absolutley fantastic, friendly,and proffesional people. you are always greeted with a smile at the start of your night and the end of your night, i
agree with duck 123 how comes the echo does not target superstores with their issues, mmm i wonder y that is. please dont tar students with the same brush as some moronic idiots,

Granny_Smith says...
3:35am Sun 28 Feb 10

aflooks13 wrote:
bravebeth wrote: We work closely with the licencees in the city who are keen, as we are, to cut cime and antisocial behaviour associated with the night-time economy in the cityPortswood is a nightmare during term times. It is a complete disgrace. The litter is appalling. It is not funny to steal hubcaps, destroy bicycles, destroy walls and house owners' property. Students do not pay council tax. Students seem to expect discounts everywhere yet they can afford to get drunk every week. These discounts should be for everybody not just students especially the hard working people.
my personal opinion of sobar is highly rated, the door staff are absolutley fantastic, friendly,and proffesional people. you are always greeted with a smile at the start of your night and the end of your night, i agree with duck 123 how comes the echo does not target superstores with their issues, mmm i wonder y that is. please dont tar students with the same brush as some moronic idiots,
Publicity stunt!!

I’ve just passed by SoBar and, as with any other Saturday night, no sign of life. I have occasionally seen queues outside this place but I guess that was during Freshers’ week. I can’t remember if this was the Albion or the Stoneham in a previous life but can guarantee it was a much more popular place on St Patricks day without these fake beer promotions!

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