The use of a Bebo website to promote alcohol has been criticised by an Independent Complaints Panel.

The same panel, however, dismissed a complaint about a drinks promotion offering UCD students a "Beer Tower" for €20.

The promotion was subsequently withdrawn by the management of the UCD Students bar because of "insufficient demand".

A complaint was made in both cases to the Independent Complaints Panel, which operates on behalf of the Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society (MEAS), the registered charity set up by the drinks industry to promote responsible drinking.

In the case of the "Beer Tower", the complaint was made by the Alcohol Beverage Foundation of Ireland, but the panel rejected the complaint because it said the promotion did not involve a quantity discount and it was satisfied with controls operated by the UCD Student Bar management.

Students who wanted to buy the Beer Tower had to produce their student ID card which was then kept until the beer had been drunk. Students were also given four or more glasses with each tower.

The rebranding of the Zanzibar pub in Lower Ormond Quay in Dublin to Bondi Beach drew a complaint from a member of the public about the size of the new sign, the fact that all drinks were €2 on Mondays and that a Bebo website was used to advertise the venue.

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The panel found that there was no breach of the law in relation to the price of drink following the repeal of the Groceries Order, but expressed concern that the Bebo website, which has a relatively high proportion of under-18 subscribers, was used to promote alcohol.

Following contact from the MEAS Code Secretariat, the banner advertising the promotion was removed.

A complaint about a promotion by the Wacky Apple bar in Waterford City was upheld by the panel, which said it could "encourage illegal, irresponsible or immoderate consumption".

The panel found that serving cocktails in a large jug breached the MEAS Code and criticised the fact that customers had to buy an extra alcoholic drink to avail of a €2 price concession.

A fourth complaint concerned a claim that the SuperValu store on Aston Quay, Dublin, was refusing purchases of single cans of beer, and only allowing minimum purchases of three cans.

While the panel said it was unhappy with the practice it drew attention to the problem of people in the area buying a single drink at a time and consuming it on the streets and said because of this it understood why the practice had been introduced.

- Clodagh Sheehy