The first motorway-side pub in the UK opened its doors to drivers on Tuesday, triggering angry reactions from road safety campaigners.
JD Wetherspoon officially inaugurated “The Hope and Champion” pub at Beaconsfield services on the M40 motorway in Buckinghamshire, with the establishment to be open from 4 am to 1 am seven days a week. The pub is licensed to sell alcohol from 9 am.
Obviously, road safety experts have expressed concerns about drink driving and warned motorists not to drink alcohol when they stop off at the pub.
“The opening of a pub on a motorway is a serious concern, presenting a potentially deadly temptation to drivers. Drink driving remains one of the biggest killers on our road, causing devastation to families and communities every day,” Ed Morrow, campaigns officer for road safety charity Brake, was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.
To temper concerns, pub chain JD Wetherspoon said it will include the national Drink Drive Awareness logos on menus and will remove all alcoholic promotional deals.
According to research by the RAC, 64 percent of people oppose the decision to open pubs in motorway service stations, with only 12 percent approving it.
“In our view this is a risky and frankly unnecessary move. The question we are struggling to answer is, of all the places to open a pub, why choose a motorway service station?” said Pete Williams, head of external affairs at the RAC. He argued that the temptation to drink and drive can only be increased by easier access to alcohol.
Feel free to share your stand on this matter in the commentary section.
By Dan Mihalascu
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