‘Minimum price for drink only way to save pubs’

LAWS to set out minimum prices for alcoholic drinks are the only hope for the pub industry, publicans’ representatives have claimed.

The Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) said that, unless supermarkets are banned from selling drink at bargain prices, hundreds of pubs will again close in the coming year.

Figures from the Revenue Commissioners revealed yesterday that 1,300 pubs went out of business in the past five years, leaving the number of licensed premises at 7,616, which is 20% less than a decade ago.