TOPIC:

Yes, I think I'm more pissed off at their patronising tone than any possible effect, though it's also an anti-choice agenda, which I resent.

It's true that the British pub is a very different animal to the Irish one, or the Dublin one anyway, but at the same time I think their line about pub-drinking allowing young people to learn to drink under the supervision of their elders is waaay overstating the case, especially in loud sports pubs of a Saturday.

Meanwhile, back at home, the chief executive of the VFI has an opinion piece in today's [i:4cko0e8w]Irish Times[/i:4cko0e8w].

[quote:4cko0e8w]Publicans are also facing up to changing lifestyles and more sophisticated demands from consumers.[/quote:4cko0e8w]What does this mean? Erdinger? Wine not from bottles that would make an airline ashamed?

Regarding the Government Advisory Group's work, he says:

[quote:4cko0e8w]We believe a minimum price should be set for all alcohol products and that this price be based on alcohol content per measure.[/quote:4cko0e8w]Certain amount of sense in that, but is he talking duty or retailer's profit here?

[quote:4cko0e8w]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.[/quote:4cko0e8w]I think this is a fig-leaf and won't make any difference.

[quote:4cko0e8w]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.[/quote:4cko0e8w]Well why doesn't the VFI do that then? Why wait for someone else to [i:4cko0e8w]make[/i:4cko0e8w] you do it? You have the "Garda ID only" posters by the pub door. If they aren't working this won't either. If retailers like the VFI did more to enforce the laws we have, this wouldn't be a problem.

[quote:4cko0e8w]This, plus the strengthening of penalties for secondary purchasing for under-18s, would enhance the effectiveness of existing regulations.[/quote:4cko0e8w]Again: fig-leaf. Enforcement is the best enhancement.

"TheBeerNut":171xvr9b wrote:
[quote:171xvr9b]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.[/quote:171xvr9b]I think this is a fig-leaf and won't make any difference.
[/quote:171xvr9b]


Probably a fig-leaf, like you say, but if there is a ban on 'happy hour' type promotions in pubs then it's surely worth questioning why it isn't across the board.

I think it's different enough. With drinks in the pub dropping in price during the day, you know they're all going to be consumed in that session by the people present. If a supermarket runs a one-day-only price drop you'd be making the assumption that the consumer is going to lash into it in one go, on his or her own.

Lots of people stockpile drink just to have in the house. You don't get that in pubs.

Yes, but I would imagine it was mentioned in reference to the two upcoming bank holiday weekends where we will have a lot of special offers in supermarkets for both Easter and St. Patrick's weekends.

I'm not fully convinced by the argument, but yes it is worth asking why the publican can't knock fifty cent off the price of a pint for an hour after work on fridays (for example), while the supermarket next door is doing a 'buy one slab get another free' type promotion in the run up to the ultimate binge drink weekend.

Today[/url:gu1ilu4c] on Ireland.com breaking news:
[quote:gu1ilu4c]The number of cases of people being treated for alcohol problems is rising markedly, the Health Research Board reported today.

According to the latest figures available, alcohol-related cases increased by 21 per cent in 2006 over 2004.
...
Dr Jean Long, of the HRB's Alcohol and Drug Research Unit, explained that the rise [b:gu1ilu4c]could be explained by an actual increase in drinking among the population[/b:gu1ilu4c], a rise in the number of cases being reported by health services, or a combination of the two factors.[/quote:gu1ilu4c][size=75:gu1ilu4c](My emphasis)[/size:gu1ilu4c]

Which suggests that Dr Long hasn't read her colleague's report[/url:gu1ilu4c] which showed that in the same period, per capita consumption has levelled off and declined slightly.

Joined-up research: I love it.