The plan to allow alcohol to be sold at the Urdd Eisteddfod has been strongly criticised by Welsh chapel leaders. In a joint statement the Independents, Baptists and Presbyterians accuse the Urdd of being inconsiderate and of failing to show leadership.

Ifan Roberts, General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Wales, said that he was disappointed, but not surprised. “As others strive to cut back on alcohol usage and try to minimise alcohol availability to young people, the Urdd goes the other way.  As we all know, it’s illegal to sell alcohol to children, so one must ask : exactly who is going to drink on the Eisteddfod field ?”

“It’s so sad that the Urdd has failed to set an example for our children young people on this issue,” said Dr Geraint Tudur, General Secretary of the Union of Welsh Independent Churches. “At a time when the World Health Organisation is preparing a strategy calling for stricter control of alcohol availability, price and advertising, it’s beyond belief that the Urdd wants to make alcohol more available.”

According to Peter Thomas, General Secretary of the Welsh Baptists, the Urdd – as a progressive and influential youth movement in Wales – has a responsibility to safeguard certain values and standards rather than bend and compromise such values in this manner. “I deplore the fact that members and officials of the Urdd Council pay no consideration to the damaging effect that alcohol has in society, including subsequent criminal consequences.”

The three denominations have about 75,000 members in Wales – most of them Welsh-speaking and avid Eisteddfod supporters.