Happy hour ban exposed as a sham

A ban on happy hour drinking in thousands of pubs is today exposed as a sham.

More than half of Britain's pubs and clubs announced they had signed up to new rules that scrapped happy hour in an attempt to curb binge-drinking and related violence.

The British Beer and Pub Association said in a much-publicised statement it had "outlawed" happy hour promotions in more than 32,000 pubs and bars.

But the Evening Standard can reveal today that no outright ban actually exists. Instead the new regulations appear to encourage pubs to extend happy hours and sell discounted drinks for longer.

The new rules tell pub bosses they should:

The only real ban is on free allnight drink for women, encouraging drinking games, giving free drink in return for an admission fee, and asking customers to "down their drinks in one".

The BBPA heralded its new guidelines with a press release headlined: "Binge drink happy hour promotions banned by beer and pub industry."

Today critics accused them of misleading the public. Alcohol Concern chief executive Srabani Sen said: "The BBPA headlined the fact that they were banning happy hours. When you look at the proposals in detail, it is clear this headline is misleading. We want these proposals to be much tougher."

A snapshot survey by the Evening Standard found a series of "happy hour" style drinks promotions in the West End. Bar Logic, in Argyll Street was offering £2 drinks on beer, wine and spirits between 6pm and 8pm.

General manager Dalziel Jones, 30, said: "We have to do it to keep up with the competition and get customers coming into the bar."

In Soho's O Bar in Brewer Street drinkers were being offered four-pint jugs of cocktails at £8, compared with the normal £15, between 4pm and 8pm. And in Zoo Bar in Leicester Square, drinkers were being tempted by £2.50 kamikaze shooters - normally £3.95 - and chardonnay, down from £12.50 to £6.50 until 7pm.

Later, students Omar Short and Jeff Peterson were leapfrogging over bollards in Leicester Square. Mr Short said: "It's been happy hour all night, practically. It's great for getting drunk on the cheap."

Among many other revellers were Anushka Anun, Ella Thutson and Rani Patel, who had also spent the night celebrating.

Christine Milburn, communications manager for the BBPA, said: "What we are talking about is responsible and irresponsible promotions. It is not misleading in any way if people read the document properly."