Bottled water can cost ten times more than unleaded petrol

OUR correspondent June Scannell (Irish Examiner letters, Nov 30) is perfectly correct to draw attention to ‘luxury hotel’ prices in Cork city. Imagine €9 for two scones and €6 for a pot of tea! In a suburban pub I was charged €2.25 for Ballygowan.

The bottle contained 250ml, or ¼ of a litre. This suggests a total rate of €9 per litre. Unleaded petrol is selling currently for 84c to 88c around town.

We bring oil to Ireland from the Middle East and wherever, process it and sell it for one-eighth to one-tenth of the price of water from our own ground. Makes you think, doesn't it?

I have learned a lesson never, never order anything in a hotel/bar/restaurant unless you know the price in advance.

Walk out if you're unhappy with the price. It is the only way and if the 'walkouts' are carried out in different establishments, notice might be taken.

Donal Murphy,

Bracken Lodge,

Clogheen,

Co Cork.