The practice of offering cheap alcoholic drinks on particular nights in clubs and bars frequented by young people is to be examined by two Ministers.
The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, said he would be discussing the issue with the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue. Mr Martin told The Irish Times he was concerned the practice might be encouraging alcohol abuse among young people.
He said the promotions in night-clubs and bars, involving spirits being sold at reduced prices, targeted younger people. "It is absolutely unacceptable that places should offer drinks like that," he said.
Night-clubs organise promotions with cheaper alcohol during the week when business is slow. Most provide the drinks themselves, rather than with drinks company sponsorship. Cheaper or free drinks in bars generally are connected with the promotion of a particular brand.
On Monday nights Dublin clubs such as Pegs on Kildare Street, Ice night-club in Mulhuddart and the Playhouse night-club in Tallaght offer all drinks for £1, while the Kitchen in Temple Bar sells vodka from one case only for £1 a shot.
On Tuesdays the Kitchen sells vodka all night for £1 a shot and Red Bull for £1. Vodka with a Red Bull mixer usually costs £5 in a night-club. On Wednesdays Club Mono in Wexford Street sells all alcoholic drinks for £1.50, and Pegs sells shots of tequila for £1.
Club-owners, however, insist they enforce strict door policies.
Ms Patricia Chadwick, manager of Pegs, said they did not accept identification which was known to be easily forged. "If there is a question for a second, they won't get in," she said.
Cheap drink offers did not mean people under 18 would be attracted to the club. "I don't think it's geared towards young people, it's geared towards people who want to go out," Ms Chadwick said.
The manager at Club Mono said it had a similar strict door policy. "If it looks anyway dodgy the answer is no." Although they would have had under-age people trying to get in when the club started up, customers now knew they would not be admitted without valid identification.
Mr Richard Mooney, the Kitchen manager, said he would not relate under-age drinking to promotions as their customers knew they had a strict door policy regardless of promotions.
Mr Brian McEvoy, group manager of Playhouse night-club, said it only allowed people with valid identification for over-21s into the club on Monday nights.
The drinks companies have said that enforcing the laws lies with bar and night-club owners. "The onus is on the trader or retailer to ensure the public laws are enforced," said a spokeswoman for Guinness Ireland.
Gilbey, the largest spirits distributor in the State, has a company policy of not promoting price-cutting of drinks. However, a spokeswoman said it could not dictate prices to traders.
Ms Deirdre Watters, senior brand manager at Heineken, said it did not do any cheap or free beer promotions as this approach would devalue the brand.
Mr Frank Fell, chief executive of the Licensed Vintners' Association which represents Dublin publicans, said while there were commercial reasons for reducing the price of alcohol on week nights, he was not in favour of attracting young people with cheap drink. The National Youth Council is also opposed to cut-price alcohol. "Access to cheap drink certainly encourages people to drink more," its director, Mr Peter Byrne, said.