Publicans voted ‘biggest rip-off merchants’

PUBLICANS are the biggest rip-off merchants in the country, according to the findings of a survey of various professions.

Vintners received just over half of all 8,000 votes submitted in a Fine Gael poll designed to identify sectors believed to be systematically overcharging consumers.

Fine Gael enterprise spokesperson Phil Hogan said the study highlighted the extent that members of the public felt aggrieved with the prices they were being charged for a range of products and services, especially in pubs.

Some of the complaints sent to the website - www.ripoff.ie - include a person charged €8.40 for two pints of rock shandy at a golf club, while a non-drinker expressed anger that he was charged €5 for a pint of tomato juice poured from a litre tetrapak which can be bought in a supermarket for about €1.50.

Latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show the price of alcohol sold in pubs has risen by 4.5% over the past year compared to the 3.1% increase for alcohol sold in supermarkets and off-licences. The general inflation rate is 2.9%.

Publicans obtained over twice as many votes in the poll as the second placed sector - insurance companies - who received 24% of all votes followed by the Government on 11%.

“These figures clearly show that all three have a lot to do in convincing people that “Rip Off Ireland” isn’t a myth as [Tourism] Minister John O’Donoghue claims,” said Mr Hogan.

The Fine Gael TD said the Government’s continuing onslaught of imposing stealth taxes, which had not been reversed by the recent Budget, had ensured its place in the top three.

Despite a downtrend in the cost of insurance, Mr Hogan said high premiums over recent years probably explained the continuing bad image of the insurance industry.

However, he said publicans had made some positive moves towards addressing concerns about the prices they were charging. Mr Hogan said a recent Fine Gael survey had shown the practice of pubs charging up to €2 for a dash of lime had ended. “However, as this poll shows, much still needs to be done to win over the public,” said Mr Hogan.

Last night the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI), which represents more than 6,000 publicans outside Dublin, criticised Fine Gael’s stance. “We are very disappointed that one of the major political parties would adopt such an attitude with very little foundation,” said VFI president Seamus O’Donoghue. “Our business is going through probably one of the most difficult times ... it has ever had. Our costs have gone through the roofs over the last few years.”

The Licensed Vintners’ Association, which represents publicans in the Dublin area, did not immediately respond to the findings.