JD Wetherspoon to open first motorway pub

Published: 04 June 2013
By Chris Haycock

The announcement follows a recent government consultation discussing the lifting of alcohol sales restrictions at motorway services. However, road safety groups and charities oppose the move, claiming that opening up a pub on motorway services could be "putting temptation in front of drivers". Road safety charity Brake said that Wetherspoons decision to open up a pub on the M40 in time for Christmas 2013 could be of real concern, "unless safeguards are put in place with strong messages to warn about the dangers of drink-driving". A spokeswoman for the charity said, "As it is putting temptation there in front of drivers, it is doubly important the messages are extra clear. Our advice to drivers is if you are driving, don't drink any amount of alcohol". Chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance said, ""To reduce alcohol-related harm, we have to reduce its availability, not increase it. Opening a bar at a service station sends out completely the wrong message if we are trying to prevent harm from alcohol-related traffic accidents." Commenting on the decision to open the pub, a Wetherspoon spokesman said, "We believe the majority of people that use the pub to drink will be people that aren't driving - coach parties or people travelling with others. We won't be asking them whether they are driving. It's up to them."