Newtownabbey topped booze spending table

The figures from the Return of Registered Clubs for 1984 showed that Newtownabbey clubs had the highest average purchase of alcohol per member.

An average of £162.71 was spent by each member of clubs in the area.

Club owners forked out almost £2m to stock their bars. This was the highest figure outside of Belfast.

Figures also showed the amount of money that was being taken by each club in the area.

The Standard in Monkstown had the most takings over the year with £200,323 going into the till. This was followed by the Eastway Social Club in Rathcoole, where £160,812 was taken.

The club with the lowest takings was the Rotary Sports and Social Club in Mallusk. Here the money spent on alcohol was £1,282. Cllr Jim Allister said: “When, as a public representative, I consider the immense social and economic needs in the area and the high level of unemployment, it’s all the more surprising and questionable that almost £2m was spent in these clubs.”