Tesco apologises for ‘drunken fans’ display
Thursday 17th June 2010, 2:41PM BST.
A WORLD CUP row blew up this afternoon after a Shropshire supermarket used an image of drunken England fans to boost sales.
Shrewsbury’s Tesco Extra store was branded “irresponsible” by the town’s MP for the display. The supermarket giant has now apologised and removed the display.
MP Daniel Kawczynski said the display at the Harlescott store showed two dummies dressed in England kits lying on bean bags surrounded by beer cans.
Mr Kawczynski claimed the display gave England fans a bad name and says he is now writing to Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy to complain.
He said: “They have got two drunken football supporters surrounded by beer cans. It’s irresponsible and a bad way to be promoting the World Cup, particularly with young, vulnerable people going there.
Alcohol
“I have had people writing to me complaining about it and I totally agree with them. What sort of an image does this give to young children in the store? It gives the impression that drinking is an all-important part of the World Cup and to gorge yourself on alcohol.
“I will be writing to the chief executive of Tesco to urge them to review how they advertise in their stores so that it causes less offence to constituents and gives a better impression to youngsters.”
A spokesman for Tesco said the matter had been dealt with.
He said: “We take our responsibility towards the sale of alcohol very seriously. We apologise for this display and any offence caused. We have spoken to the staff involved in creating it.”
Customer David Coomber took this picture of the offending display on Sunday morning while shopping in the store. He said he complained to the duty manager who said his comments would be passed on.
By Russell Roberts
UK News
Most Commented
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Planners ordered to stay on Newport visit bus
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Shrewsbury’s broadband speed one of slowest in UK
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Funnily enough i was in chester last week on the day of the England match, i was down by the river when i and my partner were confronted by some people complete with Beer cans, wearing England shirts and brandishing the English flag, shouting “Ingerlund” they were also drunk.
Likewise in Manchester 2 years ago for the Euro’s
The cap fits Danny.
Report abuse
And your point is??
People are entitled to enjoy a celebratory drink whenever they please without kill joys tutting and trying to ruin everyones fun.
We don’t live in a police state, much as some people evidently would like to.
Personally i haven’t seen ANY drunk football fans since the tournament started.
Report abuse
Celebratory drink? what they celebrating darren?
Report abuse
If Shrewsbury’s Tesco Extra store had been prevented from selling so many non-food items, this affront to decent, hard-working English people would not have taken place.
Shame on you Tesco.
Report abuse
Seems about right, after all they help to get them like that. A very honest piece of art commentry in the style of Damien Hurst {geddit?}
Report abuse
I actually think it is quite funny!
Report abuse
Is this all Daniel has to worry about?
Daniel, Shrewsbury has other issues you should be thinking of, worrying about a display in Tesco is not one of them!
Report abuse
Took the words right out of my mouth, David!
Report abuse
Couldn’t have put it better David. Come on Danny boy pull yourself together. Stop acting like the bean bag doll you’re complaining about.
Report abuse
Humour is lacking here from Daniel k I think, Facts are dress it up how you like it mirrors footie supporters lives , and i do not want that to be an insult its let your hair down have a few drinks get a little sozzled and watch the games, obey the law keep out of trouble, so whats the harm?. prom night at a certain public school im sure is exactly the same.Might be a tad bit worse.
Report abuse
I think someone has had a humour bypass!
Report abuse
I thought it was funny. I saw the display myself and found it very amusing!
Report abuse
Funny, and accurate too. Lighten up Daniel – you clearly need to get out more…
Report abuse
Get a sense of humour, Daniel.
Report abuse
What beer cans? I can’t see any? Am I missing something?
Report abuse
How sad to be worrying about a display in a supermarket when i walk through town on a daily basis and confronted by homeless people drinking cans of tennents super, i suppose it is easier for Daniel to take issue with a display than confronting real people, Daniel, get a sense of humour, it is the world cup!!!!!!!!!
Report abuse
Perhaps it was shocking to see such an offensive display in an SY postcode.
Some people seem to have lost their sence of humour and need to get a life.
Report abuse
If this is the biggest crisis our county and country is currently facing… along with the amount of non-food selling space Tesco has which apparently is solely to blame for this humourous outrage (?) then it’s about time we looked at our priorities. I imagine the busybody who took the photo in the first place will be in a similar state to the coincidentally named ‘dummies’ if England manage to get through to the next round.
Grow up Shropshire, enjoy life a bit more!
Report abuse
i can see you’re point Hai Lander but then i don’t know if you realise how much the world is changing how people who had a sense of humour are now offeneded by things that mere mortals find amusing!
Report abuse
not seen the display, but what i have read about it i think he got the wrong end of the stick, i think it’s supposed to be two people at home watching england playing on tv and having a drink or two to drown their sorrows.If there was a tv there would he of said the same thing. Put it back on display but with them in front of a television.
Report abuse
Sad get a life
Report abuse
I would also agree we do have other issues in shrewsbury, and not one to miss a chance daniel any chance of getting back to me about my benbow campaign (just in case your reading this article) .
Report abuse
sorry i thought it was a bunch of community support officers doing what they do best
Report abuse
Thats life!!
Report abuse
It was harmless, reflected our own perception of ouselves and was intended as fun. Now some employees have been reprimanded or worse because of some humourless customers and an MP who has too much time on his hands if this is what we are paying him for.
Report abuse
Tesco, put back that display at once!!
I seem to recall that the Conservatives got annoyed with Tesco before the election because Tesco refused to jump on the bandwagon against the NI increase.
I always feared a post-election backlash against Tesco by the Lie-Con government!
Oh Danny K, get a grip and start tackling some real problems
Report abuse
For gods sake get a grip people. Where has the great british sense of humor gone. Its funny
Report abuse
Hmmmmm… art imitating life or are we afraid of life imitating art? I know many will say it’s not art BUT don’t forget Tracy Emin’s ‘Unmade Bed’
Report abuse
Daniel get a life! This MP is always jumping on the bandwagon for publicity. I think it would probably be better if he looked at his accountability in his job and what he does on a local scale in Shrewsbury. bring back Spitting Image he would make an ideal muppet. Sorry that should be puppet!
Report abuse
Come on now Danny boy, talk about making a mountain out of a molehill! You should have far more pressing things to devote your time to than this – looks to me like a typical backyard in the sun – are they drunk or are they snoozing? SS – why’d you give this guy column inches, I mean you must have been tipped off to the story, but you didnee need to publish it.
Report abuse
What? People actually wrote to their MP to complain about a display in a shop?!! Too much time on their hands.
Report abuse
I agree, Get a life.Daniel maybe you could start by going into Tesco & apologise to the staff for the stress you have caused them. Come on Tesco put the display back.
Report abuse
The display was a reflection of the way a lot fans watch the matches it is part of our culture at this moment, the person who complained was most probaly allied to the kiljoy Shranks and co the ones who stopped the concerts in town, and complain about Tescos all the time.
HAS for danny Kay he should be trying to get jobs into town and taking the power away from an unelected Dr Shranks who seems to hold far to much sway.
Report abuse
I think its fantastic that we can now get good quality booze at affordable prices, thankyou tesco! it now costs me half as much to get wellied. I now spend my savings on scratchcards.
Report abuse
In Tescos Shrewsbury there is a shop
With a store display which we must stop
It’s far too real a customer cried
Dummies lying around looking pie-eyed
Danny K MP now intervenes
But its no good crying over spilt beans
Tescos have given their staff a pasting
But publicity gained will be compensating
Report abuse
We pay these political loosers to fiddle their expenses and have second homes , bird tables , moats cleaned , mars bar claimers. In other words Benefit Cheats.
Who have no talents or knowledge of running a country. “See your next set of taxes as an example” for the country now succesfully bankrupted thanks to these losers.
Yes these succesful loosers now deploy their skills in a Tesco display in Shrewsbury.
You have to get drunk to put up with these shabby people.
Now I know sadly why I left the UK .
Report abuse
An MP complaining of moral standards! He’s one to complain about anything, especially when he was skinning the taxpayer with what he was claiming for on his expenses sheet last year. Remember, this is the MP that tried ‘to come clean’ with his expense sheet but still blanked out certain items.
Why has he also written to Terry Leahy when the display has already been removed. Is he looking to get some shop worker sacked?
Small-minded, hypocritical, cheating bigots best describes most politicans……..including this one!!!
Report abuse
How did they make the dummies look drunk? was their speach slurred? were they shouting abuse at people?did they swear at the customers? i suppose it’s better to write about trivial matters than political ones.
Report abuse