BBC bans staff champagne after footing £60,000 bill

THE BBC has banned champagne after it was revealed it was costing the corporation £60,000 a year.

Managers have also ordered that this year's Christmas party budget is slashed by 50 per cent.

A memo was circulated to staff last week after a Freedom of Information request revealed that the BBC spends £60,000 of licence fee-payers' money on champagne and at least £250,000 on Christmas parties each year. The cutbacks are intended to help offset an £8million increase in energy bills.

A source said: "In the current climate it just doesn't feel right to spend licence payers' money on champagne."

A BBC spokesman added: "No company or organisation is immune from the current financial crisis and like everyone else we face real increases in costs from fuel, utilities and other areas.

"We need to scrutinise everything we do in light of the financial pressures we are facing."