I needed a can of Red Bull today and closest thing opened was Wetherspoon's. I went in and asked for a can to take way but barman wouldn't sell it to me "to take away from premises". I asked why and he said "It's the law". I just gave up and walked out.

Does anybody know what he was on about? Is there a law preventing them to sell Red Bull to take away? I don't understand...

There are different sorts of licenses. (On and off licences? Been a while since I was involved in the business.)
Maybe theirs doesn't permit the sale of drinks to be taken off the premises.
If so, then he was correct to do so.

I know they can't sell alcoholic drinks to take away. But surely there is nothing wrong with taking non-alcoholic drink like Red Bull away. Why would they need licence for that? It does not make sense to me...

*shrug*
Maybe the barman misunderstood the bosses instruction. Did you ask to speak to the Duty Manager?

I've got a boycott on the company for something similar (petty over exaggeration of the rules).

I had just given a group presentation at uni and we decided to go the pub to celebrate. I had another lecture later so I wasn't drinking, but the rest of the guys were. I went to the bar to order a burger and pint deal but I only wanted a pint of coke.

The bloke refused to serve me because I only had uni ID and a bankcard. I asked to speak to the manager and she wouldn't serve me either, and told me I wouldn't be able to stay on the premises! I was mightily pissed off, and haven't been back in since.

If you have a shop, do you need a license to sell 'things'? If so, Weatherspoons may not be licensed to sell anything for off-site consumption...
As to the ID thing, a number of 'spoons I've been to won't serve you unless you have ID, they won't serve you anything...It just seems to be their policy.

My main hangup with the 'spoons in Aber is that you have to queue up at the bar, rather than just finding a free space and waiting your turn...If you start to spread they get angry and tell you to line up again....

On another note, Aber 'spoons are doing a cheap alternative to Red Bull which I got told off by the purple one for getting for her double JD and Red Bull...And that specific concoction tastes kinda like calpol...

My main problem with 'spoons is that they're all [LIFTED].

The only thing 'spoons is good for is their Guinness and their guest ales...The ales are varied and the Guinness (although not the best) seems to be a reasonable and constant standard from one establishment to another...

In Reading only Spoons and a couple of other watering holes have reasonable prices, everywhere else is £3+ for a pint

Haha, it was the BOBS on the Kings road. That is the only one I am willing to go to if majority of my friends want to go there. Those two on Friar street I avoid at all cost.
Low prices attract unpleasant individuals...

I will call the company's head office tomorrow and ask them what is the deal...

There really are too many Weatherspoons in Reading though, I know of at least 2 and they are on the same street! (The one Sta Travel/the wedding shop is on, one at the Nandos end towards Primark, one opposites Yates' and Walkabout)

he probably saved your life no joke, red bull makes the arteries all sticky etc? and clot, very dangerous stuff, Its banned in Norway as its so dangerous

That's really not unusual though. There are two on the main drag in Pompey (although one is a Lloyd's bar), and two in Bournemouth that I can think of.

See in Newcastle there are 3 or 4, but all in seperate parts of the town, in a NE/NW/SE/SW style of locations, not on the same street though

We've got one in town and I've no complaints, they do lovely breakfasts, have a wide selection of real ales and are happy to let you taste-test before you buy. I guess it's probably different in them thar big cities, but our bar folk are nice and friendly round 'ere.