Council threat over ‘free booze’ party

COUNCIL chiefs have threatened to close a club if it runs an “irresponsible” A-Level results party tonight plying teenagers with free booze.

Mink nightclub, in Fairbottom Street, has advertised “The Biggest A-Level Results Party Ever” with offers of free booze and buy-one, get-one- free promotions.

Furious licensing offers, battling to rid the town of its booze-soaked image, have ordered the town centre nightclub to cancel the bash because it does not comply with new licensing conditions.

Mink, run by Brook Leisure, has promoted the party on social networking sites, including Facebook.

But Oldham Council’s licensing team has instructed the club to cancel — or face immediate closure.

Earlier this year, the authority’s Licensing Panel agreed new conditions on the club’s licence — including a requirement to undertake a risk assessment of promotions in consultation with Trading Standards officers.

No risk assessment has been submitted to the council in conjunction with the A-Level event.

Councillor Mark Alcock said: “Oldham Council has a clear duty to promote social responsibility on its licenced premises.We have acted swiftly to stop a wholly irresponsible drinks promotion which is exactly the kind of behaviour that is unacceptable for licenced premises.”

Tony Allen, Oldham’s Trading Standards chief, said: “After learning of Mink’s plans yesterday we immediately ordered the venue to withdraw this promotion.

“Last Friday, officers visited all town centre venues to enquire about promotions on A-Level results night. They were told that Mink had no plans to run any such event.

“The licence-holder has been warned that if Mink runs this promotion, it will immediately be closed down by officers.”

Mink’s management was not available to comment.