Proposals to deregulate the licensed trade would result in catastrophic social and economic effects and exacerbate the problem of alcohol abuse, Mr Richard Dunne, president of the Vintner's Federation of Ireland, has claimed.
On the second day of a three day VFI conference in Westport, Co Mayo, Mr Dunne said many issues were challenging the livelihood of the VFI's 6,000 members. Idealists argued that deregulation would mean greater competition but the market was highly competitive already, he said. "We have 6,000 members competing fiercely with one another on issues of price, ambience, decor, service, availability of food and live entertainment.
"The VFI predicts that a total deregulation of the pub industry will be detrimental to Irish culture, will lower standards and will have no effect on lowering prices. It will just cause serious alcohol related social problems and force small, family-run pubs out of the market," he said.
Mr Dunne said VFI members had to highlight the "competitive and over-pubbed market they must work in and the hard working life, with little profit, that is part and parcel for most rural publicans.
"The reality is that rural towns are already over-populated with pubs and Ireland has too many licences as it is with 13,000 licences, one for every 300 people in the country. Meanwhile, there is a shortage of pubs in Dublin," he said.
Excise duty on alcohol was another problem, he claimed, and he urged the Government to remove it. He also defended the 6,000 VFI members, all of whom are publicans operating outside Dublin, on the pricing of the pint.
Mr Dunne welcomed the introduction of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2000, which has freed up the movement of pub licences and carries mandatory closures of premises for serving under-age drinkers.