Licensees urged to do homework for Freshers’ Week

As thousands of students start their university or college education with Freshers’ Week all over the UK, licensees are being urged to help them have a safe and enjoyable week, and keep trouble to a minimum for themselves too.

The Drinkaware campaign has issued advice to pubs and bars which has been highlighted by the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII). The advice ranges from making sure that door staff start to engage with students as they’re queuing to come in, so that expectations can be set early.

Making sure that all staff, especially temporary employees drafted in for the week, know both the legal requirements and the premises’ policy on serving customers, is stressed. Licensees are advised to make sure that good-value food is on offer, as well as soft drinks, as well as informing customers that low alcohol options or small measures are available.

Heath Thomas, head of Harrison Clark Rickerbys’ licensing team, said: “Licensees know it’s against the law to serve alcohol to anyone who is drunk or who is trying to buy alcohol for a drunken friend; with so many young people out in pubs and bars for Freshers’ Week, the burden is on the licensee to make sure those rules are observed.

“Training and informing staff and preparing properly beforehand would be advisable – if students have a good experience in their first week, they’re more likely to come back, after all.”

Heath can be contacted at [email protected].