A GLASGOW bar has sparked a sexism row with a 50 Shades of Grey marketing ploy that jokes about domestic abuse.

 

Alfies Bar, in Yorkhill, has been slammed for an advertising board that offers "free gaffa tape" with every pint.

It adds: "That'll shut her up," and calls the deal a "50 Shades of Grey Special," referring to the best selling book and film.

The pub has been criticised by politicians and campaign groups and was blasted on Twitter.

Kezia Dugdale MP said: "There's nothing funny about domestic abuse. Encouraging men to shut their partners up is not just offensive, it's outdated.

"The owners of this bar should think again."

The pub's sign reads: "50 Shades of Grey Special...

"Free Gaffa Tape With Every Pint... That'll Shut Her Up.

"Pints from £2.50 - that's a lot of tape!!"

Morven MacLean, chair of the board of Glasgow Women's Aid, added: "It's disgraceful that a bar would deem it appropriate to degrade women as a sales ploy.

"This type of advertising trivialises domestic abuse and should not be tolerated."

A spokeswoman for campaign group Women for Independence said: "There are a lot of good bars in Glasgow where women can go and feel safe and welcomed.

"Sadly, after this, Alfie's Bar is not one of them.

"To promote the price of a pint by suggesting 'shutting up' your female partner with gaffa tape trivialises domestic abuse."

On Twitter, people criticised the sign as sexist and inappropriate while others called for a boycott of the bar.

Rachel McCormack said: "Nice to know misogyny is alive and well in Glasgow."

Murray Meikle added: "Is that supposed to be funny? What is the joke?"

Alfie's Bar, meanwhile, remained unrepentant, with a follow-up tweet reading: "Wait to see our next board!! #freedomofspeech"

It added: "Twitter protecting no sense of hummors from behind a computer since 1990." [SIC]