A PLAN by Eurocrats to ban Happy Hour has left a bitter taste around Evesham pubs.

South West MEP, Neil Parish, has hit out at the proposed regulation on drinks because he fears it could hit hundreds of venues, particularly in tourist areas.

"Pubs and bars rely on Happy Hour and other drinks promotions for attracting customers," he said. "Banning promotions would be an absolute disaster."

Matt Oreschnick, assistant manager of P.J.'s Moon And Sixpence, said it put on cut price and other promotions most days and he feared a ban would hit trade.

"It's a way of getting customers in. They're attracted by the offer and then stay," he said. "If we couldn't do it, people wouldn't come into Evesham. It would be no good for tourism at all. I hope it won't happen."

Bill Preston, licensee of The Railway in Evesham was sceptical about the proposal.

"They keep putting these things forward," he said. "I don't think it's ever going to happen."

The regulation on sales promotion is currently going through three committees in the European Parliament.