A HUGE organised pub crawl in Plymouth would be a "recipe

for disaster" according to police, students and club

owners.

The Herald has learned pub crawl specialist Carnage UK is

trying to recruit 2,000 city students and stage the event in

Plymouth in October.

Keen to promote "responsible" drinking behaviour pub, bar

and club owners in Plymouth have unanimously rejected the

proposed plan.

Darren Jones, president of the University of Plymouth's

Student Union, said the stigma of students binge-drinking is a

stereotypical image which the university wants to shed.

"We are 100 per cent against the event being staged in

Plymouth," he said.

"We are not saying that students shouldn't enjoy themselves

but there needs to be a level of responsibility.

"Anything we promote needs to be responsible. We do not

consider Carnage UK promotes responsible behaviour.

"We do a great deal of work within the city's community.

This has the potential to destroy that good work.

"It would be a recipe for disaster if the event was staged

in Plymouth."

Carnage UK organises student events in around 16 cities

including Leeds, Nottingham and Swansea.

The nights out usually involve up to 2,000 students dressing

up in Carnage UK T-shirts and going on a bar crawl which ends

in a visit to a large nightclub.

The company's website boasts "It's Going To Get Messy".

Mr Jones said he was also concerned at suggestions the event

could be staged in Torquay, which would involve pooling

students from Plymouth.

Russell Quelch, general manager of Oceana in Plymouth, said:

"We were approached to host the end party but we don't want

anything to do with it."

Peter Jones, chairman of Plymouth club bosses' Licensed

Leisure Association and the vice-chairman of the Licensed

Victuallers' Society, said: "We do not need the aggravation of

this event when we are trying to promote a responsible

stance.

"The bottom line is that events like this send out the wrong

message.

"We like to think we are responsible in our actions. Hosting

something like this would not help anyone.

"Plymouth just doesn't need an event like this. We don't

need the hassle and I believe it would be a recipe for disaster

if it went ahead."

Jock McIndoe, alcohol related crime reduction officer with

the city's police licensing department, said he welcomed the

stance.

"We could foresee all sorts of implications which we could

do without," he said.

"On Thursday, the licensed trade in Plymouth unanimously

rejected the event at its Clubwatch meeting.

"I think the client base and the aura of such an event would

not be advantageous to the city.

"The police are content with the decision that has been

made."

Steve Hughes, spokesman for Carnage UK, confirmed the

event's organisers are looking into bringing the event to

Plymouth.

"Initial talks have been had [about coming to Plymouth]," he

said. "We have held talks in the last 14 days.

"We are not sure at the moment. There is a big question mark

over it. We will know more by early September."

Carnage UK's website states the company is "committed" to

ensuring the safety of students.

It adds: "We have operated the Carnage UK Student Event

right across the country for almost half a decade without

incident.

"At the forefront of our mindset is student safety, and how

we set about ensuring that our procedures and working practices

contribute to a safe and enjoyable environment."