Australian bar faces fine for 'no knickers, free drinks' promotion
An Australian bar has found itself in hot water over a promotion in which it offered free drinks to women who removed their underwear.
The Saint Hotel in St Kilda, a beachside suburb of Melbourne, withdrew its ‘No Undie Sundie’ advertising campaign after authorities banned the promotion, which was branded sexist, tasteless and irresponsible.
If it goes ahead with the event, which was to be held this Sunday, the hotel faces fines of over £5,500.
The adverts promoting the event featured a paparazzi shot of a partially-exposed Britney Spears, who was famously photographed wearing no knickers, getting out of a car.
The promotion offered free champagne for the first 100 women through the door, a drink card worth £21 if women hung their knickers over the bar and free drinks for women who flashed their underwear or bra at bar staff.
Politicians and campaigners weighed in to criticise the deal.
Rob Hulls, the premier of Victoria, described it as 'inappropriate' and part of a 'bygone era', while the head of Australian Hotels Association said it was 'tacky and sexist' and undermined attempts to promote responsible drinking.
