"We don’t claim to be affiliated with any one political persuasion, and to be honest we don’t care who you vote for. But we do believe it is important that everyone exercises their right to vote in the UK’s upcoming General Election. To say cheers to all those who do take to the voting booth on Thursday 8th June, we’ll be giving away a free pint of Punk IPA. Just take a selfie outside your polling station, show us your snap at any UK BrewDog bar and we’ll hand you a Punk to toast your democratic contribution."
Let's not get into debate. Wherever your allegiances lie, enjoy a free pint of the good stuff with your fellow voters!
Top comments
alex_dis to FrostbiteXIII
6 Jun 178#5
What's really important is that we change the voting system.
We need Proportional Represenation. First Past The Post discourages people from casting their votes, especially in safe seats. I'm in one and I'm seriously considering not voting this time.
On the other hand, a free pint might encourage me to get to the polling station and spoil my ballot paper :smile:
dashforth
6 Jun 174#3
FYI "To anybody with a postal vote - if you have email confirmation of signing up to vote by post then this will count, so just show the email to the bar on Thursday or Friday to receive your Punk!"
All comments (41)
Intz
6 Jun 172#1
aww, theres no brewdog bars around my area :disappointed: but its an awesome idea strong
Boz
6 Jun 171#2
Heat ..... Cheers :smile:
dashforth
6 Jun 174#3
FYI "To anybody with a postal vote - if you have email confirmation of signing up to vote by post then this will count, so just show the email to the bar on Thursday or Friday to receive your Punk!"
FrostbiteXIII
6 Jun 17#4
Impressed there's no political debate on this (so far!), but I think this is brilliant. I think it's really important we vote more - especially the young folk, who can find it a bit pointless - I say this as I used to be one of them. :smiley:
alex_dis to FrostbiteXIII
6 Jun 178#5
What's really important is that we change the voting system.
We need Proportional Represenation. First Past The Post discourages people from casting their votes, especially in safe seats. I'm in one and I'm seriously considering not voting this time.
On the other hand, a free pint might encourage me to get to the polling station and spoil my ballot paper :smile:
dankbeams to FrostbiteXIII
6 Jun 17#28
This is coming too late for any young people to register to vote though.
adamgreene27
6 Jun 171#6
Don't seem to be seeing too much stuff encouraging older people to vote & help to get elderly people to the polling stations. I wonder why?
annp1 to adamgreene27
6 Jun 172#7
Likely because they're the biggest demograpic turnout. It's the young who need the push.
Bossworld
6 Jun 172#8
Still think it's important to turn out even if it's just to spoil your ballot in a safe seat. I've had a council election in the past where I put 'none', 'of' and 'these' in each of the three boxes in turn.
alex_dis
6 Jun 172#9
I agree, which is why it's so annoying that we're currently stuck with this antiquainted and undemocratic system.
So what's the solution? PR, compulsory voting (as in Australia) or....free drinks ?!
MrPuddington
6 Jun 171#10
I completely agree. We need to make sure every vote counts, and therefore we need an element of proportional representation. (The failed attempt to introduce AV, better known as STV, did not address this at all.) And please spoil your ballot if you like none of the choice - at least they know that there are voters out there who care.
alexanderthenotsogreat
6 Jun 17#11
What about that? A free pint just to get lazy gits off their **** and vote for their preferred regional MP, the person you deem best fit to represent your constituency. They can't vote for themselves you know? As I've said many times, you vote for whom will represent your constituency best, not blanket vote out of spite. Blanket voting only results in more moaning and career politicians primarily motivated by a large monthly paycheque and a big hand in the expenses pot
MrBeansDrivingInstructor
6 Jun 17#12
Since when can't they vote for themselves? Absolute nonsense. As long as they are registered to vote and live in that constituency then of course they can. If one wanted to be ultra pedantic, they are not an MP anyway as the Queen dissolves Parliament just before a General Election.
androoski
6 Jun 172#13
If it wasn't for postal vote then I might have been out of this one, I doubt I would have wasted time queuing on Thursday given that I dislike all the options we are being offered, there is no clear cut obvious way to vote.
In the end I went with my gut an made a choice, and it was for a local MP and definitely not a vote for any of the clowns standing for PM.
I'm also very unhappy with the way democratic campaigns operate these days, having not caught up with modern media I've seen lie after lie being spread round and I've had clueless moron after clueless moron attempting to browbeat me to agree with their pub-talk politics.
It's all a bit disheartening. Especially so soon after the last debacle.
I'd like to see some of these liars tried as criminals.
mtor609
6 Jun 17#14
Great idea for whoever want to get a free pint...
As for me, I've never voted.. never will.
Why you ask?
I don't play there corrupt rigged game.
the.gooner to mtor609
6 Jun 172#16
Nobody asked :smirk:
mkaikon
6 Jun 17#15
I completely agree, it's the best way to make your vote count regardless of where you live.
mtor609
6 Jun 17#17
Give it time....
Am waiting for the " it's your civic duty " or the " it's the only chance we have " BS
rossjamesparker
6 Jun 17#18
You say "safe seats" cause apathy and disown all responsibility for your situation.
I say apathy creates "safe seats" and suggest you take responsibility to effect the change you want.
One of those mindsets will lead to a healthier democracy. Do we agree on which?
You're assuming there'll be enough people in your constituency that share your opinion, otherwise the message falls on stony ground when it only cuts a massive majority by a handful. I know what my local constituency is like, unfortunately, even though the sitting MP is utterly useless.
Once again a very strong case for PR - where every vote counts.
ollie87
6 Jun 17#24
Mmhm, I'm sure there's more than a handful of people in your area who feel the same way as you. You're not as unique as you think you are. I think you might as well go and vote. It's not gonna cost you anything.
La_Quica
6 Jun 172#25
"It is a criminal offence under the Representation of the People Act 1983 for any voter to accept or agree to accept a gift or similar in return for voting or refraining from voting.
"Any person participating in an offer to receive a gift is at risk of being prosecuted."
dankbeams to La_Quica
6 Jun 17#27
But you don't have to vote to get the offer right? Just have a picture outside a polling station.
leedsfan83
6 Jun 17#26
First they say they will give you a pint of beer, then further down the page they say they are actually giving you a can of beer! :disappointed:
davidmcdougall5 to leedsfan83
7 Jun 17#38
It's a free Pint in England however due to Licencing Laws in Scotland its a free Can
mbuckhurst
6 Jun 17#29
I disagree, out current system allows for proportional representation at a local level, rather than national, my local MP is chosen by the majority of my neighbours, which is fine, because he represents us. If you introduce proportional representation, then large population areas will have significant impact on areas that are entirely unconnected and have entirely different problems, that may not be dealt with by the MP forced upon them.
It's not the proportional representation that's the problem, it's the inability of prospective candidates to get their voters off their backsides and down to the polling station, that's the real problem, and this has got to be down to most politicians seemingly in it for their own careers, no matter what colour their politics.
Normally I vote on local policies, though with the choice between Lib Dems and their undemocratic attitude to the EU vote, or Tory, it's very much a rock and hard place. Not that any of the other parties, even if they could muster a decent fight, offers anything better than career politicians.
mike
asendall
6 Jun 171#30
Section 113 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 would appear to make this idea a criminal offence. I notice that Banksy has also had to withdraw his offer of a free print for voting against the Tories in one or more of the Bristol constituencies.
liamf12
6 Jun 172#31
To those saying it's rigged, that's impossible. Undemocratic certainly as it's first past the post and not proportional representation.
You can sit and whinge or you can vote to help change it. If we keep seeing a party with fewer votes winning, especially without a hung parliament then people will finally accept something has to change. To moan, not vote and let May get in with a majority again is just insane.
alexc100 to liamf12
7 Jun 17#37
It's funny that the only ones whinging are the ones who lose. Bet they wouldn't be too fussed about the current voting system if they won.
Also FYI there's no way the Tories aren't going to win a majority tomorrow so you might as well vote tactically and make sure TM gets a good majority so that she can delivery a good Brexit. I can't pretend I'm pleased about it but there is no good alternative.
The Scottish Parliament has proportional representation, and I have a lot more confidence in my vote.
And even though I wouldn't vote conservative, it does provide that party with a voice in Scotland... It would be easy to forget how many voters go that way north of the border without PR.
Not to mention the green party actually getting a seat at the table.
wild_quinine
7 Jun 17#36
Hi Mike,
It's possible that you don't understand how proportional representation works. First past the post really is the problem, because it means that a lot of voters simply can't make a difference to their outcomes based on their post code.
I'd you don't think that disincentivises voting,I don't know what to tell you.
In Scotland there is a fptp system for the local representation that you're keen on, but everyone gets two votes.
One for that local candidate, the other for a party, meaning that it's always worth going to the polls, because you're always making a difference to the outcome for the country, even if locally you don't get on with whomever is elected.
BluePandaMan
8 Jun 17#39
I think you should still vote. If the 2nd place candidate started to get more votes, then other people, thinking as you are, might vote.
I suspect that in many safe seats, if everyone who is eligible to vote voted for the 2nd favourite candidate, they might win.
I too, would prefer some sort of PR, but I'm unsure which type would be best.
lierobs
8 Jun 17#40
UPDATE - SCOTLAND
This is NOT a free pint in Scotland due to licensing (scotland) act. You'll get a free can of punk IPA to drink off the premises while stocks last.
I'm there now.
Cluemore56
9 Jun 17#41
Can is better than nothing i suppose.
Anyone who didn't make it to a BrewDog pub last night, but took a picture, you can still claim a drink today too.
Opening post
Let's not get into debate. Wherever your allegiances lie, enjoy a free pint of the good stuff with your fellow voters!
Top comments
We need Proportional Represenation. First Past The Post discourages people from casting their votes, especially in safe seats. I'm in one and I'm seriously considering not voting this time.
On the other hand, a free pint might encourage me to get to the polling station and spoil my ballot paper :smile:
All comments (41)
We need Proportional Represenation. First Past The Post discourages people from casting their votes, especially in safe seats. I'm in one and I'm seriously considering not voting this time.
On the other hand, a free pint might encourage me to get to the polling station and spoil my ballot paper :smile:
So what's the solution? PR, compulsory voting (as in Australia) or....free drinks ?!
In the end I went with my gut an made a choice, and it was for a local MP and definitely not a vote for any of the clowns standing for PM.
I'm also very unhappy with the way democratic campaigns operate these days, having not caught up with modern media I've seen lie after lie being spread round and I've had clueless moron after clueless moron attempting to browbeat me to agree with their pub-talk politics.
It's all a bit disheartening. Especially so soon after the last debacle.
I'd like to see some of these liars tried as criminals.
As for me, I've never voted.. never will.
Why you ask?
I don't play there corrupt rigged game.
Am waiting for the " it's your civic duty " or the " it's the only chance we have " BS
I say apathy creates "safe seats" and suggest you take responsibility to effect the change you want.
One of those mindsets will lead to a healthier democracy. Do we agree on which?
I support and follow https://www.makevotesmatter.org.uk/
How else do you suggest I take responsibility to effect change?
What have you done?
Once again a very strong case for PR - where every vote counts.
"Any person participating in an offer to receive a gift is at risk of being prosecuted."
It's not the proportional representation that's the problem, it's the inability of prospective candidates to get their voters off their backsides and down to the polling station, that's the real problem, and this has got to be down to most politicians seemingly in it for their own careers, no matter what colour their politics.
Normally I vote on local policies, though with the choice between Lib Dems and their undemocratic attitude to the EU vote, or Tory, it's very much a rock and hard place. Not that any of the other parties, even if they could muster a decent fight, offers anything better than career politicians.
mike
You can sit and whinge or you can vote to help change it. If we keep seeing a party with fewer votes winning, especially without a hung parliament then people will finally accept something has to change. To moan, not vote and let May get in with a majority again is just insane.
Also FYI there's no way the Tories aren't going to win a majority tomorrow so you might as well vote tactically and make sure TM gets a good majority so that she can delivery a good Brexit. I can't pretend I'm pleased about it but there is no good alternative.
And even though I wouldn't vote conservative, it does provide that party with a voice in Scotland... It would be easy to forget how many voters go that way north of the border without PR.
Not to mention the green party actually getting a seat at the table.
It's possible that you don't understand how proportional representation works. First past the post really is the problem, because it means that a lot of voters simply can't make a difference to their outcomes based on their post code.
I'd you don't think that disincentivises voting,I don't know what to tell you.
In Scotland there is a fptp system for the local representation that you're keen on, but everyone gets two votes.
One for that local candidate, the other for a party, meaning that it's always worth going to the polls, because you're always making a difference to the outcome for the country, even if locally you don't get on with whomever is elected.
I suspect that in many safe seats, if everyone who is eligible to vote voted for the 2nd favourite candidate, they might win.
I too, would prefer some sort of PR, but I'm unsure which type would be best.
This is NOT a free pint in Scotland due to licensing (scotland) act. You'll get a free can of punk IPA to drink off the premises while stocks last.
I'm there now.
Anyone who didn't make it to a BrewDog pub last night, but took a picture, you can still claim a drink today too.