JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin has responded to criticism of the company’s plans to open its first pub on a motorway service station on the grounds that it could encourage drink-driving.
Alcohol Concern chief executive Eric Appleby said the plan to open a pub on the M40 in Beaconsfield was a “backward step”, and Carole Whittingham of the Campaign Against Drinking and Driving said it’s an “accident waiting to happen”.
Writing a comment for the broadcaster ITV, Martin wrote: “The issue of a pub on a motorway services area is obviously emotional and controversial. Everyone agrees that drinking and driving are best avoided.
“However, Wetherspoon has almost 900 pubs, and many are situated on busy roads and, in addition, there are many pubs owned by pubcos and individuals in close proximity to the motorway network.
“It has never been suggested in the past that our pubs have contributed to drink-driving problems as a result of this proximity.
“In fact, alcoholic drinks have been available at motorway services for some time from outlets like Marks & Spencer, although there has not been a bona fide pub in the past.
“Times have changed and 60-70% of the sales of many of our pubs consist now of food, with soft drinks adding another 10% or so. Pepsi is our second biggest draught product and coffee and tea together sell more than Pepsi.
“Wetherspoon has an excellent record for encouraging responsible behaviour in its pubs but, in an imperfect world nothing is guaranteed.
“Given the prominent availability of non-alcoholic products in our pubs and the wide availability of alcoholic drinks elsewhere, I believe that the chances of Wetherspoon contributing to irresponsible behaviour as a result of our new pub are minimal.”
