TV bars serve bad habits

Bar staff in soap operas such as Hollyoaks and EastEnders are spreading bad beer habits, it was claimed today.

Organisers of Beer Naturally, a new initiative to boost the drink's image, say fictional drinking holes such as The Queen Vic in EastEnders, The Rovers Return in Coronation Street, The Woolpack in Emmerdale and The Dog in the Pond in Hollyoaks have bad practices that would not be tolerated in any decent pub.

Dr Paul Hegarty, a brewing scientist at Coors, which supports the initiative, said mistakes included refilling a dirty glass, smoking and eating behind the bar, holding a glass at the wrong angle and using the wrong shaped glass.