Police take aim at 'Wife-beater' tavern

A Dunedin pub that promoted cheap drinks on "Wife-beater Wednesday" is under fire from police, who say it is linked to drink-driving incidents.

In a test case, police yesterday asked the Liquor Licensing Authority to suspend the Bowling Green Tavern's licence for allowing disorderly conduct, and for promotions likely to encourage excessive consumption.

"Wife-beater Wednesday" - renamed "Wet Wednesday" after a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority - finished late last year, but police hope a fresh ruling will define acceptable limits for promotions.

Sergeant Marty Hepburn said the extremely competitive student bar environment in North Dunedin was "unhealthy", and that doing good business "at least heavily curtails" any desire to be a responsible manager.

One promotion, which initially offered six double shots for $10 before changing to three double shots for $6, encouraged binge-drinking, he said.

Constable John Russell told the authority that a man claimed to have downed 18 shots during the promotion before he was arrested for drink-driving early on September 30.

Constable Stuart Duncan said another man, who he arrested exactly a week earlier, had been at the pub before kicking an unconscious man in the head. The man explained: "He must have tripped as he had had 10 double [bourbons] and was pretty drunk."

But lawyer Maryann Taylor objected to hearsay evidence.

The authority reserved its decision.

- NZPA