‘Irresponsible’ bar under fire after student is hit by bus in all-day drinking event

South Yorkshire Police has applied to Sheffield Council to review the licence of Sheffield University’s “Bar One”, following the accident at 5.15pm on Wednesday, December 14.

The 18-year-old student, from Suffolk, was hit by a bus as she left the “Christmas Day” event at Bar One, which started at 10am and featured a range of drinks offers.

She suffered serious head injuries and a punctured lung, and is currently fighting for her life in the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

In their application to the council, police have outlined their concerns regarding the “irresponsible drinks promotion” which ran from 10am on Wednesday morning until 1am the following day.

The police want drinks promotions at the union to be suspended until after a full licensing review.

Superintendent Martin Hemingway said: “Police are not trying to clamp down on student drinking, but need to have serious look at bars encouraging people to drink excessively from early in the morning.

“Clearly, people need to take responsibility for their own behaviour, but licensees and bar staff also have a duty of care towards their patrons.

“We want to make sure that people strike the right balance between enjoying themselves and going too far.”

A spokesman for Sheffield University said yesterday: “Our thoughts are with the student for a speedy recovery and with her family at this difficult time.

“The students’ union has run the Christmas Day event for 14 years without incident. The students’ union not only met its legal requirements for the event but substantially exceeded them.

“Notwithstanding the above, this incident requires immediate reconsideration of the event. The university has taken the decision to suspend this event until a thorough review has taken place.”