TOPIC:

"sbillings":2gbg3nl7 wrote: I know two people in the alcohol business isn't much of a poll, but you both seem to seem to think that alcopops are problem and are in a better position than most to know. Do you think there would be support for a ban on alcopops?[/quote:2gbg3nl7]

When the B&C was rebranded years ago, the cigarette machine, b*d draught, pt bottles cider and alcopops were all removed, as they were a big influence in the running of the bar. The cig machine and alcopops were back pretty quick.
Not everybody with a bad habit or poor taste in alcohol should be deprived of their fix just because the behaviour of a few idiots.

Wether it's through bad taste, or lack of ability to explore other lines, all age groups drink alcopops. Just as all age groups take drugs, carry guns and drive badly.

An all out ban is not the answer as far as i can tell, but some sort of control is definetely needed.
Bulmers rebranded years ago to lose the knackery name
it had and it worked to some degree.
Responsible selling of alcohol is the issue here. not removing it from the shelves

For example; you won't get a stein of beer form me if
i don't think you can handle it. The same goes with ordering Samichlaus at 2am on saturday.

"silenus":2m5c76ee wrote: The same goes with ordering Samichlaus at 2am on saturday.[/quote:2m5c76ee]

What no Samichlaus? Fine, I'll just have two bottles of Duvel and a pint glass please.

"TheBeerNut":1ydoufqw wrote: [ Taking away their access to spirits (even if it were workable) isn't going to stop them getting messy. [/quote:1ydoufqw]

Every bar in the country want's high spirits turnover, it's simply the best money. Nine times out of ten a spirit involves buying a mixer, big money.

Visit any late serving bar in the city and compare the draught sales to spirit sales, it's very much in favour of spirits. Take a tough line with spirits, and bars will start closing early.

I may be wrong but Off License proprietors must get last minute visits form people looking to buy spirits becouse they're half trollied. <!-- s:?: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_question.gif" alt=":" title="Question" /><!-- s:?: -->

+1 for the [b:1puogjmg]'cultural shift' [/b:1puogjmg] arguement. I'd be surprised if there is anyone on this site that has not seen someone use spirits, beer, cider and wine (maybe all at the same time!) as alcohol delivery mechanisms*
For me this kind-of negates the type of alcohol used - if one is restricted/banned, it will be replaced. In order to tackle the problem, you need to remove peoples determination to get hammered.
The Irish govt has, in fairness, had a go, with the underage crowd[/url:1puogjmg] as well as a more grown up[/url:1puogjmg] ad.

Personally, I think these ads don't go far enough - there is a deeply repugnant side to drinking too much which I think should be the target of any media campaign against alcohol abuse. The alcohol companies attempt to create some sort of wonderland of shiny happy sophisticated people. And its true that lots of people can have a few drinks and still look sophisticated and pretty (just look at the glitirati on this site <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: --> ), but for others the reality is very different - degredation, dependancy, child neglect/abuse, violence, loss of job/home/family, health problems etc
While the Irish nation think its great to go out and get hammered, and don't discriminate between those who have a few beers and those who are ruining their own lives and the lives of others, then, essentially, there is nothing we can do to to curb binge drinking in Ireland


*the drinker is drinking to get drunk, not because (s)he likes the taste of it.

&amp;quot;Irish Party Ale&amp;quot;:3b9vx8zx wrote: The alcohol companies attempt to create some sort of wonderland of shiny happy sophisticated people.[/quote:3b9vx8zx]Let me just poke around in the ban-bag here... Ah yes: ban alcohol advertising. Would that help?

They actually put a big duty hike on alcopops in Australia and the neo-prohibitionists who pushed for it were claiming a roaring success because sales of alcopops went down. They didn't to think that maybe the kids had switched drinks.

When TV programme actually went out and asked some teens what they did now, they were told that they buy one or two alcopops for the start of the night, then switch to cheap bag in a box wine.

&amp;quot;TheBeerNut&amp;quot;:2od31awd wrote: Let me just poke around in the ban-bag here... Ah yes: ban alcohol advertising. Would that help?[/quote:2od31awd]

Only if our neighbours in the UK did the same. Which isn't beyond the bounds of possibility.