The manager of Crookes Social Club has said customers smuggling alcoholic drinks into his venue has “become so prevalent it’s almost like a plague”.

Maurice Champeau, who runs Crookes Social Club, Mulehouse Road, said he and his team have noticed a significant increase in customers attempting to bring in their own alcoholic drinks into the venue.

Mr Champeau said: “We first really started noticing it in early December. As we were clearing down, we were noticing the odd can here or there that isn’t the stock we normally sell, then it became the odd bottle wine, and then the odd couple bottles of wine.

“On New Year’s Eve, I had a table who decided it was appropriate to bring six bottles of prosecco for their table. People sneaking drinks in is just undermining what we’re doing.”

He warned the practice is making it harder for venues already competing with rising costs.

“My electric bill has gone from just over £12,000 to just under £40,000 a year,” he added.

Recent member survey data from UKHospitality (UKH) found 63% of hospitality businesses have reduced staff hours and 76% report having to increase prices in order to survive financially.

“We’re all fighting against it because we’re all trying to get these music venues to survive and it just takes the wind from underneath us.”

Pubs across South Yorkshire have also reported suffering from the trend.

Veteran pub landlord Colin Talbot said the issue is “becoming increasingly prevalent and having a significant financial impact”.

He said: “We understand that the economic situation is tough and we feel it ourselves, but people smuggling drinks is having a detrimental impact on local pubs.”

Mr Champeau also warned there are safety concerns if venues cannot monitor how much alcohol customers are consuming.

“The bit people don’t think about is that we have no control over how much people who bring their own drinks in are drinking.

“There’s a knock on safety issue, a knock on of disturbing my local community, and a knock on of exposing my staff to these people and these problems when they’re not issues we’ve created.”

Mr Champeau said the club hosts a range of community events, including theatrical groups, live music, bowls teams and board gaming groups.

“We are 100% a community venue. We are here to support whatever we can in the local community.”