Brighton nightclub breathalysing on entry

Brighton nightclub Shooshh is the latest establishment to introduce a breathalyser on the door in a bid to stop excessively drunk customers entering.

Shooshh will turn away those who give a breathalyser reading of more than twice the drink-drive limit

The new initiative, which was introduced at the beginning of April, sees patrons who appear too intoxicated breathalysed by staff before entry; those who give a reading of more than twice the drink-drive limit are turned away.

Sergeant Ben Hearth, from the Brighton and Hove police licensing team, said: “The vast majority of people who go out in Brighton and Hove have an enjoyable time without causing any trouble for themselves or others.

“However a number of people do drink excessively and then find themselves getting into arguments or fights that a more sober person may not. Drinking heavily also makes people vulnerable and increases their risk of becoming a victim of a crime.

“The Shooshh initiative is a very positive one which we are hoping other venues in the city will adopt.”

The club joins a growing number of venues putting the initiative to the test, with similar trials taking place in Romford and Croydon in London.

Albie Saliba, manager of Shooshh, said: “We pride ourselves on setting high standards within the city.

“We strongly believe in this initiative and in working closely with police licensing to help reduce the amount of potential crime and disorder while keeping the public as safe as possible within the night time economy.

“We hope that this will help people to drink responsibly so they can enjoy their experiences within a safe, friendly and entertaining environment.”