Kitt warns of further measures over pub price increases

The Minister for Consumer Affairs has warned that further alcohol price freezes may be imposed unless some publicans reduce the new prices they are charging since the end of the last six-month order.

Minister Tom Kitt said he is deeply annoyed with some publicans for steeply increasing their prices since the order was lifted.

He said some of the incidences that had been reported to him indicated the "contempt" in which some publicans hold their customers.

He said that the Government would have to consider measures such as a re-imposition of price controls or a radical liberalisation of licensing laws if the situation continued.