Vintners blame supermarkets for binge drinking

BINGE DRINKING by youngsters is being fuelled by the sale of cheap alcohol in supermarkets and garages, according to the president of the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland.

At the same time, rural communities are becoming increasingly isolated by the lack of proper public transport, Paul Stevenson told his organisation’s annual conference yesterday.

Speaking at the VFI’s AGM in Monaghan, Mr Stevenson called on the incoming government to address the widespread accessibility of low-cost alcohol in supermarkets, petrol stations, mini-markets and newsagents.

Mr Stevenson said that since the abolition of the Groceries Order, chain stores are using alcohol as a loss leader in an effort to win customers.

“They have significantly increased knock-down, bargain-basement promotions of alcohol which are irresponsible and only serving to bring the industry and the products into disrepute.”

Echoing the views of the National Off-Licence Association, which last month called for the restoration of alcohol price controls, Mr Stevenson said: “Promotions such as ‘two for the price of one’ are sending out the wrong message and totally contrary to all responsible behaviour.

“Publicans are continually blamed for alcohol abuse and underage drinking. People seem to forget, however, that supermarkets and off-licences are much more accessible sources of alcohol, particularly for young people.

“It is a frequent occurrence to see young people walking out of supermarkets with trays of beer and going off to drink the lot in one session.”

Addressing 5,500 VFI members attending the annual conference, he added: “This is a particularly worrying trend as binge drinking is on the increase.

“Low-cost wine, beer and spirits are available at all hours of the day and night in environments where nobody is supervising the purchase or consumption of the alcohol.

“At a time when all of us in the licensed trade are supporting the drive to stop alcohol misuse and underage drinking, these supermarkets are operating in the opposite direction and behaving totally irresponsibly,” Mr Stevenson told VFI members at yesterday’s conference.