NEWPORT students are calling for pub visits to be less about alcohol and more about memorable experiences.

To mark the end of Dry January and start of Six Nations rugby, University of South Wales (USW) interior design undergraduates are promoting sensible drinking.

Working in conjunction with Alcohol Concern Cymru and the police, the students have produced a series of designs for 'perfect pubs' as part of the annual Know The Score #DrinkLessEnjoyMore campaign.

Suggestions included juice barrels and window displays of soft drinks to make them an enticing option, performance spaces, skittles, board games and retro arcade games, and even an indoor garden providing herbs for use in drinks.

Andrew Misell, director of Alcohol Concern Cymru, said: “As part of our work to help create a healthier drinking culture in Wales, we want to know what makes a healthier pub – one that is a welcoming social space where alcohol is sold and enjoyed but does not dominate.

“There is already a body of international evidence about the importance of things like furniture, lighting, flow of people, creating atmosphere, managing customers’ expectations of premises, and providing food and music, in encouraging sensible drinking and a more relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

“We asked the students to add their own design flair to the evidence, to come up with a range of options that can inform and inspire the pub trade to create a drinking environment we can all enjoy.”

Elys John, course leader at USW, added: “What the BA interior design students have done is to take the research from Alcohol Concern and put in their own ideas to create various ‘slow drinking’ venues.

“They’re all very different and they’re all interesting, and add to the original concepts that Alcohol Concern came up with.

“It’s also really good experience for our students here at USW, as they get to respond to a real-world brief to make pubs and bars more pleasant places for all sorts of people, including people who don’t want to drink heavily.”

The Know the Score #DrinkLessEnjoyMore campaign promotes the message that it is illegal to serve or get someone a drink who is already drunk, while anyone under the influence will not be allowed in to night-time economy venues.