Islanders welcome end of alcohol deals restriction

Some islanders have started to enjoy a ban lifted on alcohol deals in Jersey after 38 years.

The Licensing Assembly removed restrictions on drinks promotions in venues on Thursday evening after it said the ban had led to increased at home drinking and binge drinking.

Landlords have said the change, which came into force on Friday, will benefit the hospitality sector, and people who do not drink hope the deals will include alcohol-free options too.

Islander Lee Raint said she was "looking forward to getting cheaper drinking".

She said: "We can't get the deals that you can get in the UK so things like this are good."

Also out at a bar on Friday, Shiv Le Maistre said: "It's nice and sunny, two for one, what more could you want.

"It's come out of nowhere, no one even knew it was happening, it's brilliant."

Owner and founder of The Pavillion Zara Kramer said she wanted the venue to be the first to offer happy hour on cocktails, wine and beer at 14:00 BST on Friday.

She said: "When we heard the licence changes last night we were really excited and being a small independent, we were able to be really reactive to the change in law.

"I think the cost of living is so expensive at the moment and people are more and more drinking at home because of that so it's really nice from a social side to be able to come out and enjoy more cost-efficient drinks."

She added: "It's going to give consumers the opportunity to go to lots of different places they haven't been before, maybe that they've seen previously as too expensive."

Sean Murphy at the Lamplighter pub said he was waiting on his suppliers to come back to him to see what deals he can offer.

He said: "I remember growing up in the eighties - everybody kept saying it [Jersey] was boomtown.

"If we can get some of that back it would be fantastic, without the overzealous drinkers and establishments not going too far, if it's done properly it will work."

Sustainable Economics Minister Deputy Kirsten Morel said the law still remained "the same" around excessive drinking.

He said: "Managers of licensed premises are not allowed to serve people who appear to be drunk and they need to maintain that.

"This will go wrong if there is suddenly drunkenness all over town in the evenings so I do ask the industry to be responsible with this."

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