Carnage UK

Carnage UK is a company that organises pub crawls for students in the United Kingdom. It hosts events in 45 towns and cities each year. The company's events have been criticised for encouraging binge drinking and wreaking havoc on communities. Drunken participants have gained notoriety for urinating on war memorials as well as beating homeless and elderly people. Several student unions have banned the company from advertising on campus.

Carnage UK
TypePrivate
IndustryUniversity student entertainment
FoundedJune 2007
Headquarters
Birmingham
,
UK
Key people
Paul Bahia
ProductsPub crawls
ParentVarsity Leisure Group (VLG) Ltd
WebsiteCarnage UK

Background

The idea for Carnage UK was originally taken from a University of Birmingham event named 'Carnage', run by the university's raising-and-giving society Carnival Rag. The original Birmingham Carnage has since been rebranded as 'Karma', with all proceeds going to charity.[1]

Carnage UK arranges events for an estimated 350,000 undergraduate students in 45 towns and cities each year. For £10, students receive a t-shirt and free entry to around 10 local pubs, bars and nightclubs, with many of the venues offering drinks promotions during the events. The company is part of the Varsity Leisure Group.[2] According to the company's website, they are "always looking for fun & bubbly student promotional staff".[3]

Incidents

University of Bath

In 2008, a student at the University of Bath hanged himself behind a nightclub during an event organised by Carnage UK.[4]

Sheffield Hallam University

In October 2009, a Sports Technology student at Sheffield Hallam University, was photographed urinating[5] on a war memorial in Barker's Pool after drinking for several hours on a bar crawl organised by Carnage UK. The photograph was later published in a number of newspapers. The student pleaded guilty to outraging public decency. The judge in the case said that he felt the student's actions were directly caused by his heavy consumption of alcohol and that Carnage UK should also have been present in court.[6] Responding to this criticism, a press officer for Carnage UK told PR Week that much of the press coverage over the incident had been unfair. He pointed out that more than 2000 students attended the event and that the student who urinated was responsible for his own actions.[7]

University of Exeter

After an event in Exeter in October 2009, it was reported that the police were to consider charging the company for the extra officers that needed to be deployed whilst their events were running.[8]

Bangor

In March 2009, a 61-year-old man was assaulted by one of its organisers after he asked about arrangements regarding the event.[9][10]

Southampton

In October 2010, another heavily intoxicated student, this time from Southampton University, was photographed urinating on a war memorial.[11]

Cardiff

In June 2014, a group of drunken women emerged from a Carnage pub in Cardiff and commenced verbally abusing and physically assaulting a homeless man, initially profanely yelling at him to get a job, then dragging him across the pavement and street, punching him, pulling his trousers down and kicking his face.[12]

Student organisation prohibition

The National Union of Students launched a campaign to stop the organisation hosting further events, and according to a poll by The Observer newspaper, at least 17 student unions banned them from advertising on their premises.[2]

Binge drinking

The founder of Varsity Leisure Group, 29-year-old Inderpaul Sandeep Singh Bahia has denied that the company encourages binge drinking, saying, "Our events are heavily focused on group identity, social and ethical cohesion, and fancy dress themes."[13]

References
  1. Greatrex, Jonny (10 September 2012). "Carnage set for a rebranded return for Birmingham university freshers". Birmingham Mail. Archived from the original on 17 November 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  2. Hill, Amelia (8 November 2009). "Student pub crawls face ban amid backlash over drunken disorder". The Observer. London. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  3. "Carnage UK Jobs". Carnage UK. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  4. Savill, Richard (21 November 2008). "Straight A student found hanged after Carnage UK pub crawl". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  5. http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/The-moment-a-student-urinated.5740115.jp?CommentPage=6&CommentPageLength=10 Sheffield Star
  6. Stokes, Paul (5 November 2009). "Judge highlights Carnage UK's role in war memorial incident". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  7. O'Reilly, Gemma (8 November 2009). "Carnage UK press team hits back at negative media coverage". PR Week. Archived from the original on 8 November 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  8. "Exeter Carnage UK policing costs call". This is Exeter. 27 October 2009. Archived from the original on 29 October 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  9. http://www.theonlinemail.co.uk/bangor-and-anglesey-news/local-bangor-and-anglesey-news/2010/03/24/bangor-events-boss-assaulted-neighbour-66580-26091321/
  10. "Carnage pub crawl operator 'punched elderly man' A national organiser for controversial student pub crawl firm Carnage UK punched unconscious a resident who voiced concerns about noise levels at one of their events, a court heard today". The Daily Telegraph. London. 19 March 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  11. Reeve, Jon (5 October 2010). "Drunk caught urinating on Cenotaph during pub crawl". Daily Echo.
  12. "Drunk Cardiff Students On Carnage Pub Crawl Assault Homeless Man". The Huffington Post UK. 9 June 2014.
  13. "Carnage UK: controversial bar crawl promoter". The Daily Telegraph. London. 4 November 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
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