Boston bar cancels election drinks contest

BOSTON, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- A Boston bar said it canceled plans to offer election-themed drinks because one of this year's mayoral candidates, John R. Connolly, is a recovering alcoholic.

The Loews Boston Hotel's bar planned to offer cocktails named after the two candidates, Connolly and Martin J. Walsh, and keep a tab of how many of the $8 drinks customers bought as an unofficial election poll, the Boston Herald reported Sunday. Alcohol-free versions of the drinks would also be available for $4.

The hitch in the plan was that Connolly has openly discussed his past alcohol addiction problems, the newspaper said.

"Loews Boston Hotel acknowledges the insensitivity of this recent promotion and [has] canceled it effective immediately," a statement from the bar said.