By Ian Neubauer
A Melbourne hotel that irked licensing authorities in June after it hired a dwarf to freepour spirits into patrons’ mouths is in the hot seat again, this time for offering free Champagne to women who expose their undergarments.
The Saint Hotel in St Kilda’s Fitzroy Street had advertised an event this Sunday (September 21) offering a $50 drink card to women who remove their underpants and hang them over the bar, and a complimentary glass of Champagne to the first 100 women who flash their underwear at bar staff.
A maelstrom of stakeholders have come out to criticise the promotion, including licensing authorities, industry leaders and senior politicians.
“In this day and age, in 2008, to be promoting the drinking of alcohol along those lines, I just think is part of a bygone era,” AAP reported acting Victorian Premier, Rob Hells, saying.
“I am surprised that a mainstream entertainment venue would consider that this type of sexist promotion,” said AHA chief executive, Bill Healey.
“On the face of it, it looks like an inappropriate liquor promotion and we will be investigating with a view to banning it,” Liquor Licensing Victoria director, Sue MacLellan told News Ltd.
“The ad is bordering on being pornographic,” said Port Phillip mayor, Janet Cribbes, referring to an advertisement that appeared in a local music magazine showing US celebrity Britney Spears in a compromising position.
Repeated calls to the Saint Hotel went unanswered this week. The underwear promotion is currently not advertised on the hotel’s website.
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