A special promotion at a Newbury nightclub where all alcoholic beverage was available at 80p is believed to have sparked a night of violence in Newbury Town Centre.
Fierce competition amongst the Newbury nightclubs is prompting ridiculous promotions to entice patrons. The incident flared up in the early hours of Saturday morning, when a man suffered head wounds after being struck with a bottle.
The decision was then taken to close the Liquid Nightclub, with the result that dozens of semi intoxicated revellers were turned out onto the streets. Many of them became disgruntled and tried to gain access to other licensed establishments.
Police with dogs, herded the crowds into the Market Place, where they were encouraged into taxis to take them home.
Newbury.net has been shown footage from mobile phones, and it does appear that police were finding it very difficult to keep control, and were continually being verbally abused by disgruntled revellers.
Three men were arrested on suspicion of GBH. A 24-year-old man from Reading has been released on bail until 19 August; a 19-year-old man from Newbury has been released on bail until 17 August and a second 19-year-old man from Newbury has been released on bail until 1 September.
Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses.
If you can help, please call Det Con Hulse via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. If you don’t want to speak to police or leave your name, call the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
It certainly is assigning cause to effect. Whether that is fair or not,....... Well it probably is. 20 drinks for £16. I'd have jumped at that 30 years ago when the best I ever saw in Bristol at that time was 50p. Add inflation, 30 years ........ A problem......
I though Liquid was closed because someone got hit over the head with a bottle. Circumstantial at best to blame cheap drink for it. I was under the impression folk got totally wastd every weekend in town, regardless of the cost of a drink.
This is what I was thinking. The only thing that governs how pissed I get is my stomach. The cost determines how often I get pissed, and with how many people.
This is what I was thinking. The only thing that governs how pissed I get is my stomach. The cost determines how often I get pissed, and with how many people.
Nothing to do with Liquid's promotion, or the availability of cheap drink in town at all.
I think some might argue that the cheap drink offer allowed people to go out who otherwise would have stayed in, or gone home broke. It is speculative to suggest the 80p offer was the cause.
I think some might argue that the cheap drink offer allowed people to go out who otherwise would have stayed in, or gone home broke. It is speculative to suggest the 80p offer was the cause.
Under the same premise one could say it is speculative to associate any anti-social behaviour with drinking (with the exception of throwing up/ collapsing) as the perpetrators may have done the same when sober!
Under the same premise one could say it is speculative to associate any anti-social behaviour with drinking (with the exception of throwing up/ collapsing) as the perpetrators may have done the same when sober!
It is not speculation, it is fact that alcohol is a social problem.
Cheap booze attracts more customers. More people = more drunks, cheap booze = more drunks, more drunks = more trouble. Simple.
No it isn't that simple in my view. Cheap booze needn't be a problem if the supplier has sufficient checks in place to mitigate abuse. In this incident, a no glass policy would have been useful. No glass = no glassing. No glassing = no early finish. This episode suggests there is a real safety issue at Liquid. If there had been a fire, then a similar event could have occurred.
I agree cheaper drinks = more customers, but that shouldn't ordinarily be a problem if all other limits are in check.
I find the sentiments of some, that those with less money have a lower standard of morals to be somewhat distasteful.
I can't see anyone saying that. Booze is an equal opportunity stupidifier - it makes no difference how rich or poor you are drinking will impair your judgement, remove inhibitions and hence increase the probability that you will do something stupid - like getting into a fight.
Cheap booze deals don't only attract the poor either, everyone likes a bargain.
I find the sentiments of some, that those with less money have a lower standard of morals to be somewhat distasteful.
I agree. Throughout the ages, the morals of some of the 'rich' and almost all of the old 'aristocracy' were in many cases lower than that of a bunch of ditch-pigs.
It's a good thing we our awesome new high resolution CCTV to make sure all the rioters are quickly identified and given a stern talking to by our local constabulary.
Threre was no 'rioting' or massive 'punch-ups' then.
Threep.
Totally agree. If you really want to know what a riot looks like look at London and Brum over the last few days then compare it to what happened in Newbury where the police were verbally abused.
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