Loading ...Binge drinking Carnage
Carnage UK, a company that organises mass bar crawls in student towns around the country, has come under scrutiny after photographs were published of Sheffield Hallam student Phillip Laing urinating on poppy wreaths at the city centre’s war memorial during one of their events.
Laing’s behaviour has reignited a long running debate over the culture of binge drinking among the UK’s student population. It is estimated 350,000 undergraduates in 45 towns and cities attend Carnage’s events every year.
Following the recent controversy the NUS has called for Carnage nights and similar events to be banned, saying they damage not only the health and well being of students but also harm relations between students and the rest of the community.
NUS Vice-President James Budden said: “An increasing number of campuses want to see the end of these events and are doing all they can to stop them by prohibiting ticket sales and banning all publicity”.
Echoing these sentiments, Emmnauel Akpan-Inwang , LSE SU Education and Welfare Officer, told London Student that his union would “never work” with an organisation that they believed “promoted an irresponsible drinking culture.”
Carnage UK does not organise events in London. However there are a number of similar events marketed towards University of London students including ‘Survivor’, organised by the UK’s largest student event organiser Rough Hill. Students purchase a t-shirt for £15 then commence on a tour of 8 Central London pubs.
In a statement VLG, the company behind Carnage UK, said: “The NUS and Students’ Unions do not like Carnage UK events because they compete with their own events”
UoL student Aswani Pillai commented “It is sad that the behaviour of one person seems to have tarred every student with the same binge-drinking brush. I think banning the advertising of these events on campus is a good idea but it will still not stop the culture.”
Laing’s case has been put before Sheffield Magistrates Court where District Judge Anthony Browne told him that all sentencing options for his offence, including a prison term, remained under consideration.
The case is adjourned until 26th November.
How can you comment on Carnage and say you do not endorse it at our union when carnage doesn’t come to London. Idiot
It is NOT just Carnage that is being discussed here. There are various other organisations which operate “binge tour” events within London & market them towards UoL students. There is an example mentioned.
Carnage is the event that has brought the issue of these bar crawls and their consequences to public mind at the moment. This was due to the publication of Philip Laing’s infamous photograph in mid october and this is why Carnage is mentioned in this article. It is a comment on the issue in general than a condemnation of Carnage specifically.