Pubs serve a vital function, particularly in rural areas, but their viability is threatened by proposals targeting the social drinker, when drunk driving is the problem. Retail outlets must also stop irresponsible alcohol promotion
THIS IS a crucial time for the licence trade and the Vintners' Federation of Ireland, the membership organisation representing over 5,000 publicans throughout Ireland. The challenges facing Irish pubs have been well documented.
In recent years, we estimate that as many as 1,000 pubs have closed outside of Dublin, mostly it has to be said, in rural areas. This has had a devastating effect on certain rural communities and has damaged morale in the pub trade. However, all is not doom and gloom.
The last decade has seen our membership face up to many major changes. The introduction of the smoking ban presented a new challenge and stricter drink driving legislation has also altered lifestyles, particularly in rural Ireland.
Publicans are also facing up to changing lifestyles and more sophisticated demands from consumers. Far from being the end of the road for Irish pubs, I firmly believe we are up to the challenges confronting us and that the pub still has a huge role to play in Irish society.
Publicans are meeting the challenges head on. As a result, many are looking at diversifying, offering a new range of services and entertainment as well as providing quality food and catering for the non-drinker. There is no one-fix solution. The key is to identify what works in a given spot or location and to do this well.
Above all else, though, the pub is a social lubricant and still vital in many parts of Ireland as a hub for the local community, a great place to meet and greet. As long as people want somewhere with good atmosphere to meet people and chat, then the Irish pub will always thrive.
There are, though, several major issues facing pubs all over Ireland.
The Government recently established an advisory group, under the chairmanship of Dr Gordon Holmes, to examine various matters relating to the sale of alcohol and to make recommendations. The federation welcomes this group's establishment, and is prepared to be proactive in helping to find solutions to the problems outlined by the Minister.
We are anxious to work closely with all stakeholders to offer practical ideas and information that will help the authorities produce rules and regulations to ensure the more controlled sale and safer consumption of alcohol and to help address problems which may arise from irresponsible trading.
Alcohol is very different to other grocery products. It is a mood-altering product and should be respected as such. It should not be treated in the same manner as cornflakes, biscuits or bananas. This is what has happened in many cases over the past four years since the abolition of the Groceries Order. It has become much more freely available in supermarkets, discounters and petrol stations.
This has been allied to blatant and irresponsible marketing, volume-led promotions and the use of alcohol as a loss leader to attract additional footfall to increase the sale of other products.
As a result, cheap alcohol is available in an uncontrolled environment which is totally at odds with the safe consumption of this product.
This easy availability of cheap alcohol has directly fuelled under-age drinking and an increase in public order offences. It is no surprise that the growth in the number of supermarkets, convenience stores and petrol stations selling below-cost alcohol in recent years has corresponded with an increase in the level of under-age drinking and antisocial behaviour. It is an issue that is having a damaging effect on our society and needs to be addressed.
We believe a minimum price should be set for all alcohol products and that this price be based on alcohol content per measure. Allied to this we recommend the introduction of a ban on short-term price and volume-led promotions and on any marketing or advertising on any such promotions.
Passing off of identification is an issue. We would like to see the introduction of a mandatory age card for people under the age of 25.
This, plus the strengthening of penalties for secondary purchasing for under-18s, would enhance the effectiveness of existing regulations.
Tightening laws surrounding under-age drinking and where alcohol is on sale is something we will work hard for. It is in nobody's interest to have a society where binge drinking is an issue accompanied by antisocial behaviour.
The Government is also examining issues relating to road safety, including drink driving and blood alcohol levels. These are highly emotive and complex problems.
The federation is very much in favour of anything that helps reduce road carnage. However, any changes to legislation must lead to a reduction of fatalities and reducing the legal blood alcohol concentration for drivers to below the current threshold of 80mg will not achieve this vital strategic aim in our view.
Proposals to reduce the blood alcohol limit as currently discussed will have no real impact on road casualties. It has been shown that where road deaths are linked to drink driving, the blood alcohol level is generally in excess of 150mg, not 80mg. Drunk driving is the real issue.
These are not my words but those of someone far better placed than I to comment. According to Donegal Coroner Dr John Madden, in the last two decades spanning his career, it has been very rare that inquests show a link between a blood alcohol level of between 50mg and 80mg relating to road accidents.
Dr Madden explained that he sees no benefit in reducing the current blood alcohol level from 80mg to 50mg as this will only serve to criminalise law-abiding citizens who consume the equivalent of one pint of beer or a glass of wine with dinner. Do we want to criminalise these people or do we want to tackle the real problems?
The real issues relating to road safety are speeding, fatigue, reckless driving, drunk driving, inexperienced driving and the quality of roads which all need to be tackled urgently as part of an overall strategy to reduce road fatalities.
Any changes in the current law will further push people in rural areas into greater fear and isolation. Rural isolation is a huge issue and recent comments by leading consultant psychiatrist Dr Moosajee Bhamjee in Co Clare linking rural pub closures to isolation and in turn depression and perhaps suicide should be treated very seriously. Dr Bhamjee claims people with no social outlet are isolated and drinking more at home.
The rural pub used to provide such an outlet for people in isolated areas, and we believe that any move to bring the current blood alcohol level down again will only lead to more rural isolation as people will be even more reluctant to visit their local pub. We must remember that the rural dweller does not have the luxury of a Luas or a Dart or a NiteLink to call on. Indeed in many areas taxi services are non-existent except for the service provided by a local publican.
The current legislation is working in relation to drink driving and publicans and customers understand the rules. What is needed now is implementation and not alteration. Reducing the blood alcohol level to below 80mg is a distraction from the kernel of this issue.
Publicans in cities, towns and villages around the country I are more than willing to play a role in solving these problems and, in the process, to ensure that the pub remains a safe and friendly hub in Irish society.
Padraig Cribben is chief executive of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland