Vintners call for ban on potent shot drinks
Publicans said the drinks, which are normally “knocked back” in one go were encouraging young people to drink excessively.
“These drinks are packaged in a similar fashion to fizzy drinks and are targeted directly at young people. Sweet, fruit-based flavours conceal the high level of alcohol and, therefore, just how potent these drinks are,” said VFI president Joe Browne in his speech to the Federation’s annual conference.
All VFI members will be advised not to sell these shots, which are most popular with 18-25 year olds. The voluntary ban will not include other popular shots like Aftershock, Sambuca and Jagermeister or drinks like Smirnoff Ice or Bacardi Breezer.
“Sambucas are perfectly legitimate. But anything that is an encouragement to abuse is not acceptable,” said VFI chief executive Tadhg O’Sullivan.
The VFI is already facing opposition from some of its members.
“You can’t ban shots, that’s part of growing up. We’re talking about people’s right to choose,” said Longford publican Eddie Valentine.
Some of the drinks already banned by the VFI include vodka jellies and frozen alcopops. It has also said it will continue to prevent the sale of Roxxoff, an alcopop with a mix of Chinese herbs designed to increase sex drive.
Publicans at the conference backed Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s plan to introduce mandatory ID cards for people aged 18-25.
The ready availability of computers and high quality scanners had led to a proliferation of fake IDs, with many teenagers carrying up to five different versions.
“You’d want to be in the forensics section of the guards to detect some of the fake IDs.“A mandatory ID would end all the uncertainty,” said Roscommon publican Larry Cunningham.
A motion to ban mobile phones that can take pictures was defeated for being impractical and publicans voted to set up a county by county database on troublemakers in pubs to assist gardaí.
Meanwhile, pubs could lose up to half their customers if a smoking ban is introduced, the conference was told.
“Between 20-50% of our customer are smokers and they also have spouses, friends and siblings. Habitual smokers are addicted to nicotine.
“It’s not like turning off a tap,” said Kerry publican John O’Sullivan.
He warned that publicans would lose smoking customers just as they had lost the people in country areas who had drank two or three pints in the old days but were now afraid to drive to pubs because of the drink-driving laws.
The 300 delegates at the conference withdrew a more conciliatory motion on the smoking ban and voted instead for outright opposition to it.
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