The Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) heard today that the right to refuse service is the biggest concern among its members.
A survey done by the VFI of its 6,000 membership showed that the key worry facing rural publicans is what they describe as the threat from members of the Travelling community, either causing damage to property, intimidating staff or using the equal status legislation to blackmail proprietors.
The survey, presented at the VFI’s annual conference in Limerick today, claimed almost 50 per cent of respondents experienced problems with Travellers on their premises in 2001.
The survey also found one in four publicans who responded were experiencing severe problems in policing under-age drinking, with accurate age identification becoming increasingly difficult in the absence of a mandatory national ID card.
VFI chief executive Mr Tadg O'Sullivan said: "The fact is that members of the Travelling community are using what is clearly flawed legislation to extort money from publicans. The genuine concern of publicans stems from their responsibility for the protection and safety of customers, family and staff while on their premises.
"It is incredible that considering the wide range of other issues and strains now involved in running a successful public house, this issue is the most serious for publicans, more specially when the Equal Status Act is supposed to safeguard a publicans' right to refuse service,".
VFI’s President Mr Richard Dunne called on its 6,000 members to lobby the Government to address the shortcomings evident in the current legislation that, he said, fails to protect the rights of publicans.
