TESCO were today slammed by a council boss for selling discount boxes of beer to Rangers fans as they arrived in the city centre.
The company’s Metro store on Market Street piled boxes of lager at the entrance to the shop which were snapped up by supporters who were in town in the early hours after travelling through the night.
Councillor Pat Karney condemned the practice as “highly irresponsible” and marched into the store, ordering them to remove the booze from the shop entrance.
Councillor Karney said: “Unbelievably at Tesco they had boxes of booze at the front entrance selling at discount. It is highly irresponsible and they have let Manchester down.
“We had huge problems with this with the screening of the World Cup in Exchange Square. The police and council have asked them not to do this. They had been selling it from 6am. I have given Tesco a final warning and said that if they continue to do this they are putting their own licence to sell alcohol in jeopardy.
“To be fair to Tesco when I pointed this out to them they moved the booze straightaway, but they should not have been doing it in the first place. But I have seen loads of young men with boxes of booze in Piccadilly Gardens and Cathedral Gardens at 8.15am.
“This kind of selling encourages irresponsible drinking which in turn can lead to serious public order problems.”
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A spokesman for Tesco said: “We do take a responsible approach to selling alcohol and following the concerns from the councillor we have responded immediately and removed the items from the store entrance.”
He said that the store had placed alcohol at the entrance before depending on promotions they were running.
Roads into Manchester city centre were jammed today as convoys of Rangers fans who had travelled by car started to arrive around 7am.
Vehicles were bedecked with Union Jacks and the atmosphere was boisterous and friendly as fans played football in Piccadilly Gardens.
Frank Welsh, who had a ticket for the game said: “The welcome from people in Manchester has been great. I have not had much sleep as I am booked into the Ramada Hotel – next to Piccadilly Gardens – so it has been a bit noisy with our fans but they have been well behaved.”
Thomas Clarke, 21, and Conrad Sewell, 19, who did not have tickets travelled overnight by car from Glasgow and slept in the vehicle in a Manchester car park after arriving at 4am.
Thomas said: “Coming down the motorway there were thousands of cars full of Rangers fans – some were in limos.”
Conrad said: “We are quite happy to be the underdogs and I think we will win 2-0 or 2-1.”
Nine-year-old Kirk Henderson, from Glasgow had a ticket and was going to the game with his father, uncles, and grandfather. “It is the biggest football match I have been to in my life. I have been to all the home matches in the other rounds of the cup and I think we will win 1-0.”
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Scrotnig [City Of Crime 2008] (14/05/2008 at 10:41)
Typical of our city council and its control-freak ways.
Welcome to Manchester - don't you DARE try and enjoy yourself while you're here.
Marc, Duck of Death (14/05/2008 at 10:50)
Jimc (14/05/2008 at 10:54)
Timberman, MANCHESTER (14/05/2008 at 11:00)
come on who's got the pictures. Tesco is only doing what these corner off licenses do 24/7 365 days of the year.Check up on those Mr
Karney.
Roger Jones's P45 (formerly MC Spanner) (14/05/2008 at 11:07)
What a jumped-up rentaquote publicity seeking egomaniac? He managed to create a fuss at 8.15 and get it published in the MEN all by 11.00.
Is that really the job of a councillor?
Karney who only two weeks ago was inviting Terry Leahy for a meeting to discuss a planning application.
Did he not come? Is your ego bruised. Something tells me and I may be going out on a limb here that if the Rangers fans are looking to drink, and 1 or 2 of the may, the price and location of the alocohol is going to make squat all difference.
bluelight, Levenshulme (14/05/2008 at 11:17)
Says one thing one minute then completely contradicts himself the next.
All this excessive drinking in the city centre justifies what you said before and now you're having a moan when soemone complains.
Personally I'd sympathise with your second point on this article. Granted Karney is a self-publicist. I agree with his point but he's very quick to take the mic.
Anyway, You're suspect scrotnig. You need to work on that.
ace, manchester (14/05/2008 at 11:25)
emma (14/05/2008 at 11:28)
Lets keep manchester a free welcoming city away from petty officials
Enjoy yourself rangers supporters the majority of people in Manchester want you to have a good time hope you win
Emma
John-Thai sandwich brigade (14/05/2008 at 11:33)
HIS law or the law of the land.
I know he has great difficulty in separating the two.
ps... Bolton is still not in Manchester.
but that story is old hat.
dessie, manchester (14/05/2008 at 11:38)
jomov, Manchester (14/05/2008 at 11:38)
They are fools.
Scrotnig [City Of Crime 2008] (14/05/2008 at 11:38)
I stand for freedom of choice, and enforcement of the law - REAL laws, not "bin crime" - and the two do not contradict each other at all.
Melandra (14/05/2008 at 11:39)
Blue Heart, Eccles (14/05/2008 at 11:48)
It's something that will take two maybe three days so leave them alone.
bluelight, Levenshulme (14/05/2008 at 11:52)
Scrotnig, just because you can open your mouth doesn't mean you stand for freedom of choice.
You stand for advanced freedom of choice where there are so many choices you become confused and don't know what to choose.
I'd say you represent something but it's nothing to be particularly proud of.
Mr Manchester (14/05/2008 at 11:55)
The authorities should have laid on the big screen at the Triangle, and pumped ale through the water fountains outside.
Bejjy ex Salford now Malta, Malta (14/05/2008 at 11:59)
PW, Manchester (14/05/2008 at 12:02)
And sing all together!!
"Bringing in the sheaves, Bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing........"
Paul Peters (14/05/2008 at 12:04)
Shaken (14/05/2008 at 12:11)
Ranger/Zenit fans enjoy your day, have a drink for me!!!
Scrotnig [City Of Crime 2008] (14/05/2008 at 12:24)
I stand for freedom of choice...IE, you can buy alcohol subject to the law, or you can choose not to.
Manchester City Councillors sticking their oar in and deciding which bits of the law they are happy for you to have the benefit of is NOT the way to do things. There is a democratic process to follow. Pat Karney thinks he can sidestep it, he can't.
gillykins, urmston (14/05/2008 at 12:24)
Peter M, Mcr (14/05/2008 at 12:56)
Tameside Blue, Tameside (14/05/2008 at 13:10)
So the cases were stacked up at the door ?? So what.
How long would it have taken the Rangers fans to have 'Sniffed them out' inside the store
Quote fictional Rangers Fan "Oh look, Tesco have beer at the door, let's buy some and have a drink. I would never have thought about having a drink if it weren't for Tesco"
Karney = Muppet
Tameside Blue, Tameside (14/05/2008 at 13:12)
Peter M, Mcr
14/05/2008 at 12:56
Peter M, Biggest laugh of the day. I assume you only arrived in Manchester at 8am ?
Can't believe you're surprised. They've been there all night you clot !!!