Bar slammed for ‘Welfare Wednesday’ booze deal

An Irish bar has been blasted as “irresponsible” for a drinks promotion called Welfare Wednesday that encourages recipients of social welfare benefits to spend their money on cheap alcohol deals.

A Dublin pub has been criticised for a promotion encouraging welfare benefit recipients to spend their money on cheap booze

The Liz Delaneys bar in Dublin came under fire when it was ordered by the Department of Social Protection to remove a government logo from a poster advertising the deal.

The poster stated that those interested in the promotion – which included pints of beer for €3 and whiskey and vodka drinks – must prove they are in receipt of social welfare benefits by producing their card or bus pass.

Logos on the poster included those of Absolut vodka and Jameson Irish Whiskey.

“On presentation of a social welfare card or bus pass. All day and night every Wednesday,” the poster read.

Councillor Paddy Bourke said: “It’s out of the question that this should be allowed. My view is that this is totally irresponsible.

“To encourage people to use this money to drink isn’t right. Obviously they’re trying to attract people into the pub, but I don’t think any of my council would think this is okay.”

An employee told the Irish Mirror: “The owner doesn’t want any comments made so there is nothing I can say.”

Last year, a UK pub situated near the sites of two 1970s IRA bombings was forced to cover a banner advertising Irish Car Bomb cocktails.