A MORECAMBE pub and club has been branded 'irresponsible' by councillors for promoting cheap beer in the wake of a drunken riot on the promenade. There are fears that the Carleton Inn's summer offer of seven drinks for just £4 will increase drunkenness and make an explosive situation worse. At the weekend a boozy riot involving 80 revellers resulted in four police officers needing hospital treatment - one policeman fractured his skull after being hit with a beer bottle. Fourteen people have been charged in connection with the disturbance, including three Carnforth firemen.

"What went on at the weekend was a drunken orgy of violence," said one local licensee. "A promotion which offers up to 14 units of alcohol for just a few pounds can only make it worse. For £8 someone could drink themselves to death. A Sheffield man died recently after a similar drinks promotion. Alcohol is a drug and its sale should be handled responsibly."

Chairman of Licensing, Cllr Edna Jones, said: "This drinks promotion sounds irresponsible and likely to encourage drunken behaviour. What we don't want is a repetition of what happened in Morecambe. We'll have to monitor what happens."

A Carleton Inn spokesman confirmed the drinks promotion was going ahead but was unable to comment.

Describing the weekend's events as a 'near riot,' Mr George Whittaker of the Licensed Victuallers Association said was planning to hold a meeting to see what could be done.

He said: "We'll be bringing together licencees, the police and others to discuss any suggestions that may help. As regards the drinks promotion each licensee runs his own house in his own way."

Those arrested have been charged with offences ranging from public order to malicious wounding.

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