1st motorway pub 'offers deadly temptation to drivers'

England's first motorway service station pub will open on Tuesday, prompting a storm of criticism from road safety and health campaigners who have warned that it will encourage drink-driving, the Guardian reported.

The two-storey premises, called the Hope and Champion and operated by the JD Wetherspoon chain, is at services next to junction two of the M40 near Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.

It will be open from 4 a.m. until 1 a.m. seven days a week, and be licensed from 9am. The development, which cost oo nearly $2 million, will create 120 new jobs.

The road safety charity Brake said it was disappointed Wetherspoon's had pressed ahead with the pub _ and is planning more outlets _ after warnings against it on safety grounds.

Brake spokesman Richard Coteau said: "The opening of a pub on a motorway is a serious concern, presenting a potentially deadly temptation to drivers. Drink-driving remains one of the biggest killers on our roads, causing devastation to families and communities every day.

"It is vitally important that messages about the dangers of drink-driving are as strong and obvious as possible, so drivers know it's not okay to stop off for a quick drink on their way home. Our advice is not to have a drop if you are driving."

Sir Ian Gilmore, the Royal College of Physicians' special adviser on alcohol and chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said the development sent out the wrong message.

"The appearance of bars on our motorway network adds greater urgency to the Alcohol Health Alliance's call for a fundamental review of licensing laws, focusing on the availability of alcohol and reducing alcohol-related harm. Public health should be a core licensing objective, and the impact on the health of local people must be a key consideration."

JD Wetherspoon said the Hope and Champion would also serve a wide range of non-alcoholic drinks, plus tea and coffee with free refills (until 2 p.m.). In addition to the usual selection of beers, wines and spirits it will sell real ale from local and regional brewers.

Beaconsfield is 25 miles north-west of London and was the first stop on the coaching route to Oxford (now the A40, parallel with the M40).

A Wetherspoon's spokesman said it expected most of the sales for alcoholic drinks to come from passengers or those in organized coach parties: "But we are not naive. We know that giving drivers the chance to have a pint off the motorway is an unusual offer.