Text Me A Drink at Hugh Lynch's

A novel new way of buying your friend a drink is being trialled at Hugh Lynch's pub in Tullamore. "Text me a Drink" is a new technology set up by four Dublin-based entrepreneurs that allows people to buy drinks for their friends across Facebook and through text. Speaking to the Offaly Independent Text Me a Drink's Colm Cleary said the Tullamore pub was chosen because of the size of the Tullamore catchment area. Emmet Lynch of Hugh Lynch's pub said the idea is only slowing taking off, but he's looking forward to it boosting business into the future. "It's the perfect test bed," Mr Cleary said describing his company's pilot area of Tullamore as quite a large town that's somewhat distant from others and has a good network of people. "We've had bars get in touch with us from all around Ireland but we thought Tullamore was the ideal size." The basic premise sees users visit www.text-me-a-drink.com and buy drinks for friends using laser or credit cards. People who have had drinks bought for them will be sent a code via Facebook or text that's valid for 30 days. Simply by showing this code at the bar of the participating pub they can redeem their drink. "Everyone we tell has a great reaction," Mr Cleary said. "What we really need to do now is transfer the enthusiasm into purchases; that's where the challenge lies." The main push to transfer enthusiasm into purchases is to be made over approximately two months in Tullamore, before figures are examined and hopefully the initiative is rolled out across Ireland. "The main reason is to benefit pubs," Mr Cleary said. "The idea is that when somebody gets sent a 'Text Me a Drink' either across Facebook or through text they will go down to this bar to redeem their drink," a company statement explained. "When they go to redeem this drink they will be with friends and when they are there they will buy many more drinks, thus increasing business for the publican." "It'll have a big knock-on effect for the bar," Mr Cleary agreed. Anyone looking to buy friends drinks at Hugh Lynch's via text can pick up a pint of beer for €4.50, a bottle of beer for €5, a cocktail for €7, a spirit with a mixer for €5 or a glass of wine for €6. Vouchers worth €20 and €50 for the pub can also be bought at the website - www.text-me-a-drink.com.