A NIGHTCLUB embroiled in a drinks promotion row yesterday claimed that the price cut was the only way to highlight the problems of cheap alcohol.

Chambers, in Duke Street, Darlington, has been accused of undermining the work to tackle binge drinking after it launched a weekly night by slashing the cost of drinks to 69p.

However, manager Barbara Vowles said the promotion had brought the problem of cheap drinks into the public domain.

She said: "We never wanted to go down this route. We have so much competition from other pubs and from supermarkets selling cheap bottles.

Everyone is cutting everyone else’s prices.

"In this business and at this moment with the recession, the only way we could get our point of view across was to go down the same route as everyone else, make a stand and make the Government understand there is no licensing law stipulating that you cannot do this.”

Ms Vowles said the club had maintained its stance on sensible pricing policy for two years and had campaigned for minimum prices.

She said: “If we had a minimum pricing policy, people will spend more money, but you don’t just get people drunk.

“We want people to enjoy their night. Binge drinking is a terrible culture that the North-East is getting.”

The Broke event runs for three weeks every Thursday, traditionally student night in Darlington. All drinks will be 69p. No admission fee has been announced.

However, more than 1,200 people have signed up to a group on social website Facebook to receive free entry. The club has a capacity of 400.

Inspector Steve Steyn, from Darlington police, described the promotion as “irresponsible”.

He said it could lead to a price war and the police would have to deploy extra officers in that area of town on Thursdays.

He added: “We are in broad agreement with minimum pricing, but that is for the Government.

“Having a reverse policy is just fanning the flames.”

Colin Shevills, director of Balance, the North-East alcohol office, welcomed a minimum pricing campaign. He said: “We would welcome more pub, bar and club owners getting behind a minimum pricing campaign. However, this kind of promotion is completely irresponsible, regardless of any ulterior motive.

“If we don’t clamp down on promotions like these we are going to have a very serious problem in the North-East.”

A council spokesman said the authority had no powers to set a minimum pricing policy because the Office of Fair Trading said it prevented competition.

He added: “The responsibility rests with the individual business.”