Drink-drive ban for alcohol-free bar's general manager

The gen­eral man­ager of an alcohol-free bar has been banned from driving after being caught behind the wheel while more than four times the legal limit.

Hayden Geraghty, 33, of Sobr bar in Aberdeen, admitted the offence which happened in the city's Holburn Street last month.

Geraghty, of Newtonhill, Aberdeenshire, was banned from driving for a year at the city's sheriff court, as well as being fined a total of £520.

The bar said he was being sup­por­ted personally and professionally.

The charge stated that, on 7 March, he drove after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of alcohol was 99mcg in 100ml­ of his breath, exceeding the legal limit of 22mcg.

Sobr owner Kate Kenyon issued a statement after Tuesday's conviction, which was said to have been issued with the agreement of Geraghty.

"The matter of Hayden's court case is very personal to him and he understands the amount of hurt and damage he has caused, both to himself and those closest to him," she said.

"Since the incident, Hayden has been upfront, open and honest with us about what he has been going through, which we have greatly appreciated, and we have offered support when needed, from both a personal and professional standpoint.

"His situation further shows why somewhere like Sobr is so important."

The statement added: "Behind every statistic is a real person - a reliable colleague, a caring neighbour, a loving mother, a father who never misses a school play.

"Alcohol abuse does not look the way people imagine and it doesn't discriminate.

"We are supporting Hayden every step of the way while he works through this period in his life."

She encouraged anyone struggling with alcohol abuse to seek help.