Singer bans alcohol at concerts

The singer's hits include Brown Eyed Girl Moondance

Van Morrison has shocked concert promoters and fans by imposing an alcohol ban at all of his UK concerts.

The Belfast-born singer claims it is distracting when audience members go out to get drinks.

Morrison, whose hits include Brown Eyed Girl and Moondance, said such interruptions ruined the musical experience for everyone.

However, despite the ban, any venue hosting the star will still be allowed to serve soft drinks.

A spokesperson for Morrison denied that the ban had anything to do with the 63-year-old's well-publicised battle with alcohol when he was younger. He is now teetotal.

Earlier this year, the singer was labelled the 'Victor Meldrew' of the music industry by critics after imposing a similar alcohol ban on audiences in the USA.

Morrison has also been known to tell-off mobile-phone users at his concerts.

Losing his patience at a gig in Texas this year, Morrison reportedly shouted: "We'd like to do the next album.... if someone turns off that mobile phone, we can start it".