Punters in bars and nightclubs in Mayo to be given lollipops to prevent rowdiness over Christmas

A night out in Mayo over the festive period will be sweet.

Mayo County Council are to implement a novel campaign to prevent rowdy behaviour in pubs and nightclubs in the county over the Christmas period. According to RTE, revellers in pubs and nightclubs across the county will be given free lollipops while leaving premises in an attempt to prevent any trouble taking place afterwards. The lollipops are also designed to promote road safety and will come with messages such as ‘get home safely’ written on them. Mayo County Council decided to implement the campaign after similar schemes enjoyed success in the UK and Canada in the recent past, with the lollipops acting as a distraction, particularly to males who might otherwise be tempted to engage in drunken and aggressive behaviour. A Road Safety Officer from the Mayo County Council says that the scheme is a “sucker punch” tactic designed to “placate aggressive, drunken men at the end of a night out”. The Road Safety Officer is quoted on RTE.ie saying: "Like giving candy to a grumpy baby, lollipops are said to have similar effects on grown men and women. Moreover, arguments fuelled by drunken bravado and macho attitudes often escalate following verbal exchanges. But stick a lollipop in their mouth, and it becomes a lot harder to shout. "In other countries police noticed an immediate decrease in rowdy activity and an increase in calming energy and awareness created around the message on the lollipop.” Lollipops, is there anything they can't do?