Publicans pull out of responsible drinking pact

Vintners’ groups say supermarkets, convenience stores and other off-licences are not held to the same high standards

MINISTER FOR Justice Alan Shatter has described as “a most regrettable development” the withdrawal by publicans from an initiative promoting responsible consumption of alcohol.

Mr Shatter said the decision of the two main vintners’ organisations to withdraw their support from the initiative sent out a negative signal at a time when public concern over excessive alcohol consumption remained high.

The withdrawal of publicans from the Meas (Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol) initiative appears to herald the collapse of self-regulation in the drinks industry. But even as it happened, the Minister was preparing tougher rules governing the promotion and sale of alcohol.

New legislation published last week, while not proposing a statutory code on responsible drinking, gives legal recognition to codes of practice for the sale and marketing of alcohol for the first time.

Under the proposal, if the holders of an alcohol licence fail to act responsibly, they could face an objection at the time of renewal of their licence. It would be then up to the courts to decide whether to renew the licence.

Mr Shatter’s proposals were unveiled at the same time as the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland and the Licensed Vintners Association announced they were withdrawing from Meas, which is funded by the drinks industry.

The two bodies, which represent the bulk of city and country pubs, claim the Meas code does not apply equally to off-licences.

In recent years, pubs have lost market share as supermarkets, convenience stores and other off-licences aggressively promote the sale of cut-price alcohol.

The publicans claim the existing code, as it applies to the off-trade, lacks meaningful sanctions, fails to deal with cut-price drink promotions and is ambiguous about merchandising.

In a scathing attack on self-regulation that echoes the criticism of anti-drink campaigners, they say “there is no public awareness of this ineffective code which is very narrow in focus”.

The two organisations say they will continue to encourage publicans not to engage in promotions that could result in the excessive consumption of alcohol and to continue to abide by the laws governing the sale of alcohol. But the Minister reminded the vintners that compliance with the licensing laws was not optional.

“The gardaí will continue to enforce the laws rigorously with a view to combating drunkenness, disorderly conduct and anti-social behaviour on our streets,” he continued.

The vintners want the Minister to introduce rules requiring supermarkets to sell alcohol in a structurally separate section of a store.

This proposal, which would increase costs and cut alcohol sales in supermarkets, formed part of the 2008 Intoxicating Liquor Act, but was not commenced by the previous minister, Dermot Ahern.