Greedy publicans may provoke a backlash

THE arrogance and contempt several vintners still display for the health of their staff and customers is fuelled by greed which is beginning to cause a backlash among the general public against all publicans.

This is unfair to those who are fully implementing the smoking ban on their premises. The drop in alcoholic drink sales is mainly attributable to excessively high pricing, particularly in large urban centres, and this seriously damaged the tourism industry.

A most commendable feature of the bar trade in recent years is the sale of food which has contributed to better value and quality lunches in most provincial towns.

Responsible leadership within the vintners' groupings on the smoking ban is essential. After all, the ban on smoking is permanent. Ireland has given leadership to Europe in the battle against the tobacco barons whose products have been sending millions of people prematurely to their deaths every year for well over a century. As killers of people they leave both world wars in the shade.

The pub has been, and will continue to be, a social centre in Irish life, provided the industry has the capacity to recognise its responsibility to protect its staff and customers from serious health risks.

The irresponsible attitude of some vintners must pose the question of their suitability for the trade and the unfair image of it that they project.

Health Minister Micheál Martin and the Office of Tobacco Control have played major roles in delivering health protection to the staff and customers of licensed premises through the elimination of highly dangerous tobacco smoke. History will record it as a decisive and sensible leadership move by the Republic of Ireland and it is already being followed by other European countries.

It will not be an event that the current leadership of the vintners will look back on happily in a historical context.

John J Hassett

Chairman

Irish Association For Tobacco Control

Croke Street

Thurles

Co Tipperary