Oz pub doling out 50 dollars free booze cards in lieu of undies!

Melbourne, Sept 18 : A pub in Melbourne has been asked to call off its promotional event, in which it was urging women to remove their underwear in return for a 50 dollars drink card.

Victoria's liquor licensing director Sue Maclellan has today banned the event, called 'No Undie Sundie' at the Saint Hotel in St Kilda.

After the promotion was reported in the Herald Sun, Maclellan met the pub's licensee Cameron Manning and ordered a ban as it could encourage irresponsible drinking. Scheduled to take place on Sep 21at the Fitzroy St venue, the event also asked women to flash their bras or underwear for free drinks.

The advertisements of the No Undie Sundie show a scantily clad Britney Spears getting out of a car and also include off-colour language.

Appearing in street press and online, the adverts have outraged sex assault counsellors, who say that it put young women at risk.

According to Melbourne Centre Against Sexual Assault spokeswoman Carolyn Worth, the advertisement was stupid and dangerous.

"It sends a very bad message, and it is one made very explicit. It's almost an invitation to sexual assault," News.com.au quoted her, as saying.

"The Saint is really pushing the barriers. A free 50 dollar drink card is a lot of drink. That's five of their cocktails," she said.

Port Phillip mayor Janet Cribbes threatened that she refer the organisers to the Advertising Standards Bureau.

"The ad is bordering on being pornographic. It fuels the fire for irresponsible drinking, irresponsible behaviour and puts young women at risk and makes them more vulnerable to sexual assault," said Cribbes.

She added: "I'd thought they (Saint management) would have learnt their lesson from the dwarf episode. We'll be paying them a visit soon, I'd say."

However, the Saint management made no comment on the issue.

The event is run by Birdhouse promotions.

ANI