Official News page 8

REAL LIFE NEWS: HOW TO GET A DRUNKEN HAIRCUT

by Hazed

This has to be one of the stupidest ideas I have heard in a long time. A pub in north London, England, has turned one of its bars into a beauty salon in a bid to attract more customers in these times of hardship. Managers of the Dartmouth Arms in Tufnell Park have hired a hairdresser to cut customers' hair, and hope the service would stop them losing regular drinkers and bring in new customers in the current tough economic climate.

Pubs are having a rough time recently. The smoking ban has hit trade, and competition from supermarkets selling cut-price booze has added to their woes. Landlords say that many pubs are under threat of closure, so finding some way to increase business is important.

"With the credit crunch, the increase in taxes and rent, it's no secret it's very difficult for pubs so it's a case of anything we can do to make it easier and make a bit more money," said landlord Laura Stephens. "It is going well actually."

Hair stylist Arlene Stainthorpe (no, not THAT Arlene!) visits the pub every Thursday night and charges £9 for a trim.

Well, I'm all in favor of pubs offering extra services to keep their customers happy, but combining a night of drinking with getting a haircut strikes me as asking for trouble. How many people are going to wake up the next morning with a hangover, and then scream as they realize they agreed to have all their hair cut off...?

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