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.