Drunk Tank: wacky Paddy Power idea to keep streets clear of inebriated racegoers

Paddy Power are never one to back down from a challenge, and the betting company's latest initiative promises to make racing at Royal Ascot this week more enjoyable for all.

The 'Drunk Tank', a service that will provide temporary accommodation for inebriated racegoers in a clear 6m x 2m container in a lorry, has been introduced in a bid to avoid the recent scenes of alcohol-induced brawling at Goodwood and Ascot.

The most refreshed racegoers will be shipped off in wheelbarrows to the lorry by patrolling Paddy Power staff so they have a place to recuperate and recover from their alcohol-induced exertions.

Paddy Power said: “Every year we watch thousands of dapper gents and glamorous ladies descending on Ascot. But the mere whiff of a Prosecco cork seems to set them off. By the second race they’re rolling around the royal enclosure like wild animals.

"Our Drunk Tank team will be patrolling the streets of Ascot to ensure the drunks don’t spoil things for residents and decent race-loving folk.”

On a more serious note, Ascot recently announced it would employ stricter measures, such as sniffer dogs patrolling toilet queues and breath-testing of racegoers at the turnstiles, in a bid to deter drug taking, drunken behaviour and violence.

World Horse Racing on global mission

Ascot stages its first meeting since the launch last month of World Horse Racing, a new digital media company that is a joint venture between the racecourse, Goodwood, the Victoria Racing Club (which operates Flemington racecourse) and the Breeders’ Cup.

The aim is to cover racing stories from around the world on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, through film and photography.

Juliet Slot, chief commercial officer at Ascot, said: “Collectively we wanted to be able to do something a bit different to what we all do under our own brands, and to get under the skin of the stories around the stories.

"For example, we were able to catch up with New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski at the Belmont Stakes, when he was there at the track to see his namesake run second to Justify.

"We exclusively captured the moment when Gronk met Gronk for the first time. That’s the kind of thing we are trying to do – sometimes approaching events with a lighter touch as there are plenty of media organisations covering the main marquee stories.”

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