POLICE have condemned a Werribee nightclub for running a promotion that rewarded young people for getting drunk, saying it made binge- drinking socially acceptable.
Watton Street’s Mynt Lounge drew the attention of police and the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) last week after it was revealed it was running a promotion that encouraged patrons to post photographs on its website of themselves drunk.
Some of the pictures uploaded showed people lying facedown on the floor, while others showed people toppling over. The patron judged “trasher of the week” was given free drink cards.
The Weekly believes the promotion had been running for four or five years before it was banned by the VCGLR last Tuesday.
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The club has since apologised, removed the photos from its website and said it did not tolerate irresponsible alcohol consumption.
Wyndham Police’s Inspector Damien Christensen said such promotions taught young people that it was socially acceptable ‘‘to get absolutely plastered’’.
“Their target audience is kids between 18 and 23 who are still in that risk category,” he said. “It promoted risk-taking behaviour and I don’t want that behaviour established in Wyndham.”
Police and Wyndham’s licensed venues, including Mynt Lounge, established a liquor accord late last year in an attempt to reduce alcohol-fuelled violence and promote responsible drinking. Inspector Christensen said the promotion went against everything the accord was trying to achieve.
“Everyone is trying to sell the message that you should consume alcohol responsibly and behave appropriately when consuming alcohol,” he said.
A VCGLR spokeswoman said licensees had an obligation to ensure liquor was served responsibly.
In a statement, Mynt Lounge acknowledged the promotion had sent the wrong message but said the photographs used were staged and did not feature drunk patrons.
Pics perfect for binge campaign
A WERRIBEE drug and alcohol counsellor says images from a controversial nightclub promotion should be used in a campaign warning about the dangers of binge drinking.
Stepping Up general manager Shelley Cross condemned the promotion.
“A reward system given to the drunkest is a clear indication that Australia’s binge-drinking culture is still alive,” she said.
“It would be great to see those exact images used as a warning … that this type of behaviour is not going to happen at a local bar.”
