Pub chains are flouting their own rules on responsible drinking by selling double measures of spirits cheaper than singles, offering two-for-one promotions and holding happy hours where prices are slashed.

Politicians and alcohol abuse campaigners last night accused the companies of hypocrisy and irresponsibility.

Several chains have introduced voluntary measures aimed at tackling binge drinking, which has been blamed for a rising tide of violence and anti-social behaviour. However a Sunday Times investigation has revealed that, while many chains declare that they promote responsible drinking, they are running promotions that encourage customers to drink more.

Mitchells and Butlers, the UK’s leading operator of managed pubs, has published a document entitled Responsible Retailing, in which it states: “We do not offer any incentives to our customers to drink irresponsibly”. However last week the Ark pub in Glasgow, which is owned by the company, was selling single measures of vodka with Red Bull mixer for £4.20, and doubles for £3.80.

A similar promotion was on offer at the Tron Tavern, in Edinburgh, also owned by Mitchells and Butlers, where a double vodka and Red Bull cost £3.90 while a single was £4.30.

The Belhaven brewery chain is a member of the Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA), whose website states: “The industry is committed to the Government’s sensible drinking message. If you drink, enjoy drinking responsibly.”

City Walls, a pub in Stirling owned by Belhaven, was offering a single vodka and red bull for £4, and a double at £3.50. Droughy Neebors, another Belhaven pub in Edinburgh, was charging £1.70 for a single gin or vodka, but customers could opt for a double at £1 more.

AJD Wetherspoon is an associate member of the Portman group and on its website, it says it is committed to responsible retailing. The Counting House in Glasgow’s George Square, owned by AJD Wetherspoon, was selling spirits for £1.80 but had an offer encouraging drinkers to “double up” for £1 extra.

The Barracuda Group website states: “Marketing and promotion are specifically designed not to encourage excessive drinking or foster antisocial behaviour.”

Its Varsity Bar in Stirling was offering discounted drinks and a discount card for £2 which allows 25% off all drinks. On a Thursday from 7pm it’s two for one on most spirits.

The deals were attacked by Richard Simpson, public health spokesman for Scottish Labour and an ex-consultant psychiatrist specialising in addictions.

“It is disingenuous to say promotions of this sort do not encourage more \,” he said. “From the evidence the Sunday Times has uncovered it is clear the industry has got to police itself more effectively.”

Jack Law, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, added: “It simply fuels the real problem we have with binge drinking in Scotland. We are completely opposed to low-cost promotions and very concerned that this is happening.”

A spokeswoman for Mitchells and Butlers said: “It would appear that a process error in a recent Red Bull promotion in two of our pubs has resulted in this inadvertently being outside our policy guidelines. We take any breach of our policy very seriously and have taken immediate steps to end the promotion in these pubs.”

Stuart Ross, managing director of Belhaven, said that the promotion at the City Walls was a mistake and that it would be withdrawn immediately.“We don’t have happy hours. We are very conscious of the fact that alcohol is a drug, it has an impact on people’s behaviour, and we do not price it in a cheap way to attract the bottom end of the market.”

A spokesman for Barracuda denied that offering discounts was encouraging irresponsible drinking. “Our professionally run venue has had no incidents of people abusing this promotion as we operate a strict policy regarding drunkenness or inappropriate behaviour.”

Eddie Gershon, Wetherspoon’s spokesman, denied the promotion encouraged binge drinking, adding that it did not promote two-for-one deals or have Happy Hours.

Additional reporting: Jordan Leaney and David Walker

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