Rugby fans urged to check out pub prices

CHECK the price, then pick the pub.

That’s the message from the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs (ODCA) who is urging rugby fans to make an informed decision about where they drink before tomorrow’s crucial clash against France.

Director Carmel Foley yesterday published drink prices in 26 pubs in the vicinity of Lansdowne Road in the hope it would discourage publicans from increasing their prices on match days.

After a similar survey before the English clash, only one of the 19 pubs surveyed increased prices on the day of the match.

The 51 on Haddington Road increased its prices across a range of drinks. An ODCA inspector was charged €4.50 for a CDC gin, an increase of 60c when compared with the price on February 16.

The display list showed that other spirits were increased by 60c and pints were increased by 30c.

Also, two premises that had not been named in the February survey - The Waterloo and Toners - confirmed to an inspector that they had also increased their prices for the day.

Ms Foley said it was now clear that public and media pressure had paid off in keeping the prices down.

Last spring some pubs raised the price of a pint of stout by up to €1 on the day of Ireland’s match against Scotland.

Ms Foley stressed that it was not illegal to raise prices once the higher price was clearly displayed.

“However, consumers frequently feel aggrieved at price hikes that take advantage of fans at sporting events,” she said.

Full details of the latest price survey are available on the ODCA website at http://www.odca.ie/pdfs/pubs10thmarch.pdf