Castlebar’s Cox’s found in breach of MEAS Code
A member of the public complained that the drinks promotion by Cox’s Restaurant and Bar encouraged illegal or irresponsible drinking.
The advertisement, which appeared on its Facebook page, stated: “Remember what REAL VALUE was? We’ve got it at Cox’s! Get any 3 Pints for €10 Or any 3 Bottles* for €10 *Offer applies to Budweiser, Corona, Bulmers Long Neck, WKD, Breezer, Ice & West Coast Cooler.”
The independent Complaints Panel noted that the MEAS Guidance Notes on Point of Sale Promotions and Materials and Serving of Multiple Drinks state that promotions “identified and agreed to be those that should not be run as they are either unlawful, or entail a disproportionate risk that they will lead directly to alcohol misuse and anti-social behaviour” include “promotions that encourage or reward the purchase or drinking of large quantities of alcohol in a single session”…[and] “promotions that encourage ‘round buying’”.
The Panel reviewed a copy of the advertisement and noted that the promotion encouraged customers to buy three pints (the equivalent of six standard drinks) for immediate consumption on the premises for a single payment of €10.
The Panel reviewed the correspondence from a representative of Cox’s Restaurant & Bar which stated that, “The offer of three drinks for a price is designed to add value to the occasion of a couple or pair of friends who are having a social drink. We did not limit this offer to a specific time frame and indeed extended it over two days with the intention of rolling it out over the full week’s duration. We believe this promotion could not be considered excessive or irresponsible on our behalf and should be deemed moderate and does not encourage the consumption of large quantities of alcohol in a single session. However we are going to cease the promotion from this date on as we don’t want to engage in any activity that might be deemed to be controversial”.
The Panel considered the promotion in light of the provisions in the MEAS Guidance Notes. It noted that an individual patron was required to buy three pints in order to avail of the reduced price promotion, that the promotion was offered by an on-trade premises and that a minimum quantity of three pints had to be purchased by an individual consumer wishing to avail of the promotion. The Panel concluded that this promotion fell into the category of ‘promotions that entailed a disproportionate risk that they will lead directly to alcohol misuse’ and therefore was in breach of the MEAS Code.
MEAS Chief Executive Fionnuala Sheehan has invited licensees to use the MEAS Code Advisory Service prior to undertaking a drinks promotion to avoid the costs and embarrassment associated with a Code breach.
ends
