Shrewsbury nightclub to crack down on drink-related violence

The Buttermarket in Howards Street, Shrewsbury is trialling a new ‘Alco-Blow’ breathalyser, where the security team at the venue will randomly select clubbers to blow on to the device from a few inches away. It can then alert door staff if a person registers at a level that they consider to be too much and accordingly refuse entry to them.

Martin Monahan, the owner of The Buttermarket, commented “We’re always keen to introduce any measure that helps maintain The Buttermarket as a safe environment for all our customers and staff. This new device means heavy drinkers in particular would be ‘tested and turned away’ from the venue if they arrive already drunk.

"People who 'pre-load' before going out are generally more likely to get into trouble, and so it’s important for us to refuse entry to anyone who we consider has already had too much to drink into the venue and help prevent potential alcohol-related disturbances.

“Shrewsbury is an excellent night out, and the town has been attracting a lot more people from throughout the county in recent months, as well as clubbers from Birmingham, Wrexham and Mid Wales. As the vibrant night-time economy attracts so many more people all licensees need to be even more pro-active in ensuring that partygoers who have had too much to drink are refused entry into venues and go home instead."

This new ‘breathalyser’ initiative was introduced last week in over 40 bars and clubs in Birmingham in a police-backed scheme.