Heed the warning on stronger sentencing

PEOPLE normally go to the local pub for a pint or two, a glass of wine, or a cup of coffee.

It’s a place where neighbours can meet to relax and have a chat after a busy day at the office or on the farm, providing an escape from the drudgery of day- to-day life. For most people, the pub serves as a centre of conviviality and hospitality.

Set against this rather utopian backdrop, the alarming claims made in today’s front page story by Padraig Cribben, chief executive of the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland, portray the pub in a different light. He warns that a publican or bar worker could be killed unless tougher sentences are handed down by the judiciary to the perpetrators of increased levels of violence in pubs. Such criticism of judges has long been voiced by various organisations, arguing that some of them are out of touch with the realities of life in Ireland today. Writing in the Irish Examiner, Mr Cribben claims “publicans and their staff are being left with serious injuries, both physical and mental, and premises are being significantly damaged on what is now a regular basis.”

Many teetotallers will also regard the sentences handed down to violent drinkers by members of the judiciary as not being tough enough. Obviously, your friendly publican will dismiss any suggestion that booze might be to blame for the increased level of aggression they are coming up against. It is unclear to what extent this scenario may be purely anecdotal or simply due to another urban myth which has possibly grown legs. Yet, considering the inherent risk that the act of ringing alarm bells could be counter-productive and perhaps put off some customers from going to the pub, the warning must be taken seriously.

According to the federation spokesman, physical attacks on its members have increased by between 40% and 50% in recent years, resulting in publicans and staff members suffering serious injuries such as cracked ribs and broken noses. Unsurprisingly, the vintners’ executive strongly denies any suggestion that alcohol served on the premises might be the root cause of the increased aggression.

His rejection of any likely cause and effect is reminiscent of the famous Mandy Rice Davies quip “he would (say that) wouldn’t he?” On the contrary, he puts the growing number of assaults on pub workers down to the fact that they are frequently triggered by a refusal to serve someone because they were already intoxicated. In other cases, however, he says the attackers were sober when the incident took place.

Despite pointing to a significant increase in the number of attacks on publicans, he insists it has not reached epidemic proportions. He goes on to write, however, that “now is the time to make sure it doesn’t become one”.

Mr Cribben complains that a “series of high-profile violent attacks” have taken place on publicans. If anything, he adds, these attacks appear to be on the increase. Expressing a fear that a bar owner will be killed in his own premises, he emphasises that unless the violence is tackled by the courts with a stronger sentencing policy imposed, the attacks will continue. Judges should heed his warning.