Leicestershire students in call to end mass pub crawls
Student groups want to stop a firm running mass pub crawls for thousands of people at a time.
The University of Leicester Students’ Union (ULSU) and Loughborough Students’ Union said they did not want any further controversial Carnage UK events in the county.
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Students in Leicester on Carnage pub crawl
They have joined several other groups across the country who are calling for a ban.
Carnage came to Leicester on October 29, with more than 2,000 participants, just weeks after a student at a similar event in Sheffield was caught on camera urinating over a war memorial.
The company was criticised by a district judge when the student appeared at Sheffield magistrates court.
The firm stages city centre bar-to-bar drinking tours in university towns across the country where students buy a T-shirt for £8 and then follow a pre-planned route.
ULSU campaign officer Owen Jones said: “We would like to see Carnage events banned and have stopped its T-shirts being sold and flyers handed out in our venues.
“Unfortunately, it hard to get a ban as such because it still gets promoted in other ways.
“But we are clear that is what we would like.
“We worry we will take the flak for problems caused on their events.
“We don’t want to see any more in the county of Leicestershire.”
Loughborough Students’ Union campaigned successfully to get a planned Carnage tour in the town cancelled in 2007, though some students travelled to Leicester to take part in the most recent event.
Union president Rob Hulme said: “Working with the university, the police, local residents and local venues, we made our students aware of the problems and issues that would come from allowing such an event to take place.
“Students at Loughborough don’t want such an event to take place. It detracts from the Loughborough University life.”
A spokesman for Varsity Leisure Group, which owns Carnage UK, said the student who urinated on Sheffield memorial was turned away from the event for being drunk when he arrived.
He claimed unions opposed events mainly because they did not like the competition with similar stunts they themselves ran.
He said: “The true position is that Carnage UK events are carefully planned, organised and managed. Varsity Leisure Group always communicates with the local police licensing department, in advance, to ensure that the events run smoothly.
“Varsity Leisure Group does not promote binge drinking nor does it promote drinking to dangerous levels.”
Leicestershire police said there were no incidents of serious concern linked to the Carnage event in Leicester on October 29.
13 Comments
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by Alex, Leicester
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 11:00AM
“I am all for this kind of event and I am sure that the businesses of Leicester all benefit from it also. This can only be a good thing for Leicester's night time economy.”
by KH, Leicester
Tuesday, November 10 2009, 3:39PM
“Most of them probably weren't students anyway, just people looking for an excuse to validate their drinking. The article in the Sun interviewed "students" that said as long as you had a T-shirt on, no one was checking NUS cards.
And anyway, neither me or anyone I knew when I was a student would have been seen dead drinking themselves into a stupor in the likes of Glasshouse or Parody. Steer clear of Belvoir Street area at all costs was the general idea.”
by Matt, Leicester
Tuesday, November 10 2009, 1:55PM
“Yep, they could (and probably do) organise their own pub crawls but people like to think they are part of something 'big' and I imagine the idea of being part of a 2000 strong pub crawl is to some is an epic night out. You could say why do we even go to pubs, clubs etc why don't we all just go round someones house, clear the furniture to create a dancefloor buy some tinnies - the perfect DIY night out/in.
Of course that makes it sound like I am supporting the whole thing, but I'm not, not my thing at all, too much like sheep for my liking but some people like being sheep. As for the company claiming they don't promote binge drinking or alcohol abuse - what a joke - why is called carnage then?”
by Stu, Leics
Tuesday, November 10 2009, 12:15PM
“Couldn¿t agree with Eddie more. Students should save their money and organise their own pub crawls! Surely a requirement of any young persons education.
I would advise against those complaining students drinking. For every pint drank we the tax payers get a refund by means of excise duty! If they buy books there isn¿t even any VAT so we tax payers are still out of pocket. The more they drink the more we save!!!”
by eddie, leicester
Tuesday, November 10 2009, 11:59AM
“I would be grateful if people would stop suggesting that the army is a career of last resort for uneducated losers. The army is highly selective and dont take just anyone in. Also as a former serviceman who has a degree and a good job in the civil service all after leaving the forces I can assure you that it is an excellent career and equips those who wish to,to do well after leaving. I imagine that there are more unemployed students with unsuitable degrees,or working in fast food chains ( nothing wrong with thart btw but a bit of a waste of a degree in media studies ) that there are unemployed ex servicemen. The only thing I have to say about the carnage nights is that these students cant be that clever if they need to pay someone £8 to arange a pub crawl!! a popular saying springs to mind involving not being able to arrange a you know what in a brewery! Heres some advice.
1. call your mates
2.leave house
3.go to pub with mates
4.comence drinking
5.et voila... your own little bit of carnage and you did it all on your own...well done.”
by stu, Leics
Tuesday, November 10 2009, 11:33AM
“Wouldn¿t it be nice if people kept to the subject and didn¿t leave fall in to petty insults and name calling.
It¿s not the end of the world!!! Vast groups of drunken students in town centres is obviously a bad idea. However the fact that many students are intelligent and have to work very hard to get to Uni is also obvious. Therefore they should be bright enough to organise their own pub crawls on a smaller and more manageable scale.”
by John, Glenfield
Tuesday, November 10 2009, 11:26AM
“So where do these "Carnage UK" events take place then?
Pubs/clubs presumably?
If so then the law is already in place to prevent the "carnage" but its NEVER enforced. It is illegal to serve someone already intoxicated with alcohol MORE alcohol.
Instead of everyone heading off on spurious "join the army" nonsense how about the police enforce the existing laws?
No? Didn't think so.”
by Michael, Market Harborough
Tuesday, November 10 2009, 11:09AM
“Nick, if every 18-year-old in the UK joined the army, worked in factories or carried out apprenticeships then we'd have lots of great plumbers, carpenters and soldiers but not very many scientists, teachers and doctors would we?
I think you're tarring all students with the same brush. Many of the young people on events like this will be in their first year of studies, away from home for the first time and letting their hair down. Once they get further into their courses I'm sure they, like I did when I was a student, will begin to knuckle down and begin studying.”
by j, leic
Tuesday, November 10 2009, 11:02AM
“Nick, I'm sorry mate but for many lads the Army is the only option. Why? Because when they are at school they don't listen or study because THEY think "adolescent life" will just continue and that being "cool" or "hard" will get them somewhere in life.
Then the "geeks" and "swots" go to Uni, get great jobs, and nice cars whereas all the lads have is no qualifications and no prospects. A life in the Army beckons!”
by Jacqui, Leicester
Tuesday, November 10 2009, 10:45AM
“Quite, Kulgan.
Good for you Nick but not everyone is the same. Not all students are children of the elite, and maybe for some of them it is an extension of adolescent life - so - we are adults long enough! And for crying out loud, these students are trying to do something positive by banning Carnage events. Give them a break!”