Why not fewer pubs?

THE publicans’ lobby claimed that café bars would have merely increased the number of outlets selling drink and would have led inevitably to more binge drinking.

By the same token, surely any expansion of existing pubs would have the same effect.

After all, publicans expand their premises to fit more people in so that they can sell more drink.

Using the publicans’ simple logic, does it not follow that a reduction in the number of existing licences would proportionately reduce the problems caused by alcohol?

Should we not support the publicans’ argument and ban the expansion of pubs, maybe even drastically cull the number of existing licences?

Rónán Ó Caoindealbháin

55 Bóthar tSlí Leathain

Baile Atha Cliath 15