Publicans to be prosecuted for no price display
Yesterday, Director of Consumer Affairs Carmel Foley urged consumers to be vigilant and not be charged higher prices for drink at Christmas parties and functions.
To highlight consumers’ awareness of the price of their Christmas drink, inspectors from the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs have carried out a nationwide pre-Christmas survey into the level of compliance by publicans with the Retail Price (Beverages in Licensed Premises) Display Order 1999.
“Consumers are entitled to 100% compliance, and that is what my office is working to achieve. During 2004, I successfully prosecuted eight licensed premises and arising from the results of the current survey, I have identified at least 12 premises nationwide which were blatantly in breach of the order. I propose to prosecute these in the New Year.
“Consumers should be more price sensitive and should get into the habit of checking that the price on display is the price they pay,” Ms Foley said.
“Challenge the barmen if you are charged more than the price listed and, if you don’t get a satisfactory explanation, tell us,” she said.
Inspectors from the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs hear all sorts of excuses from publicans for not displaying prices.
Excuses include: “List pulled down or stolen”; “list removed for painting and decorating” and “waiting for list to be laminated”.
“How hard can it be to comply with legislation that is not new and is a simple requirement? Publicans will have to do better than give us those sort of excuses,” Ms Foley said.
In a bid to make consumers more price vigilant, inspectors carried out a special pre-Christmas survey into the level of compliance with the Retail Price (Beverages in Licensed Premises) Display Order 1999.
Of 189 premises visited, 139 (74%) were complying with the law and it was found that premises outside Dublin were less likely to display their prices list.
A total of 99 breaches of the Prices Display Order were found in 50 premises.
Ms Foley is to initiate legal proceedings against 12 premises immediately because in each case there had been a “blatant breach” of the law. Legal advice would be sought for the rest.
“Many of the premises found to be in breach of the legislation are large premises, including hotel bars,” she pointed out.
“In the past there was a view taken that pubs could charge what they liked because they were always full but that is changing,” she said.
People were entertaining more at home. They were getting takeaways and buying drink in off licences.
“That sort of movement I believe challenges the total power that the pubs used to have and I welcome it,” she said.
“The most effective element for keeping prices down is competition and competition will occur where people are prepared to move their business around.”
