Predictions on Craft Beer in Ireland

Prop Joe

Craft Beer is growing by the week in Ireland,But what do you predict where it will be in 12 months time.

Do you see every bar in the country eventually dropping the major brands to stock more local beer?

Or will Heineken & Guinness just backlash and destroy these micro breweries with a price war.

I think we will see most pubs keeping Guinness,Heino,Carslberg,Bulmers & then having a good range of Irish craft beers,With most of it being regionalized

the beer revolu

Of course there's room for both.
Every pub in Belgium has a mainstream lager on tap but at the moment most pubs feel the need to have about 6 mainstream lagers on tap - I can see this changing.
True, though, the big boys don't like to share so it will be interesting to see how they respond - might start buying up micros.

matrim

I can see most pubs getting in some form of craft beer even if it's just bottles behind the bar.

I know they tried with the Smithwicks pale ale but I wouldn't be surprised to see the bigger breweries trying to push into the market more, maybe buying up one of the smaller craft breweries and keeping it going or bringing out a new brand themselves. That way they could have bars advertise as "Selling Craft beer" when really it's just a bar selling an extra Diageo brand.

Blisterman

I think the country that most mirrors Ireland in terms of beer is the USA, though they're about 10-20 years ahead of us.

In New York and Chicago, most bars I was in had a few craft beers on tap in addition to the Macros. There's some way to go before that stage is reached, and I think the phenomenal growth of the past 5 years has the possibility to continue for some time.

BeepBeep67

It's put me off going to any of my local pubs as they stick to the standard mainstream offerings. The off licenses can't keep the craft beers in stock, so the pubs are missing a differentiator.

Hippo

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

It's put me off going to any of my local pubs as they stick to the standard mainstream offerings. The off licenses can't keep the craft beers in stock, so the pubs are missing a differentiator.

Agree 100% with this, it's a real opportunity for the pubs especially as they're apparently finding things so tough at the moment. It'd be great to have some options when visiting a pub!

Prop Joe

It will be interesting to see how it plays out,Would love if bars just got rid of the 5/6/7 mainstream lagers,Keep 1 or 2 and try something different...something Irish as well ...I think it's gas that you can go into most pubs in Ireland & struggle to buy an Irish product

symbolic

I play pool in the Palace on Camden St, Dublin and for such a long time they've been pushing the whole extra cold lager thing. All beers available extra cold etc. Heineken, budweiser, Miller.

Since about two weeks ago, I've been able to buy o hara's stout, ale, Galway hooker and Sierra Nevada in there, couldn't believe it.

I, for one, welcome our new craft beer overlords.

Blisterman

That's great, the more places serving craft beer, the more people become exposed to it, and start demanding it in other places.

Prop Joe

Blisterman wrote: »

That's great, the more places serving craft beer, the more people become exposed to it, and start

demanding it in other places

.

Thats Ok in Offy's where the risk is low,But publicans are scared if they get a keg in they wont sell it...I just wish that they would chance it and actually push the beer,Get a few regulars drinking it and there would be no bother.

I'd nearly go as far as turning off a couple of the mainstream taps the odd day to get people to try it...But of course i'm not a publican.......anymore

BeerNut

Prop Joe wrote: »

But publicans are scared if they get a keg in they wont sell it

I think it's more that some publicans are scared it won't sell itself. Which it won't. But if they put a bit of basic marketing behind it, train their staff, and do the basics that would be expected of any retail business, the craft beers have a lot going for them. Otherwise, if they're happy that they're making enough money from the macros and don't want any more trade, then you can't argue with that.

symbolic wrote:

I've been able to buy o hara's stout, ale, Galway hooker and Sierra Nevada in there

Wow. All bottles, I assume?

the beer revolu

Prop Joe wrote: »

But of course i'm not a publican.......anymore

Made me laugh:D

Scortho

The difference between the craft beer drinker and main streamers is that the craft beer drinker buys the beer for the quality of the product on offer. They're not going to be too fussed if the the mainstream beer is a couple of cents, even a euro cheaper!
A craft beer brewery has totally different target market! Just like McDonald's and a top end restaurant have!

Since starting drinking craft beers and non mainstream stuff last year, I haven't looked back! It's came to the stage where if its only mainstream stuff there ill generally order a whiskey or a 7up! Unless the place does really good smithwicks!:)

I don't understand why wary pubs don't take the risk! Buy a few bottles and see how customers react! If they go for it/look for it in droves you then know to maybe look at getting a keg! Any of the pubs offering craft beers on tap are doing a roaring trade at the moment! You'd think others would be getting the message faster!

Martyn1989

BeerNut wrote: »

I think it's more that some publicans are scared it won't sell itself. Which it won't. But if they put a bit of basic marketing behind it, train their staff, and do the basics that would be expected of any retail business, the craft beers have a lot going for them. Otherwise, if they're happy that they're making enough money from the macros and don't want any more trade, then you can't argue with that.

Wow. All bottles, I assume?

Completetly agree but I'd wager most publicans wouldn't know where to begin when looking at these beers. Its too much like hard work and they're small customer base is enough to convince them they don't need to change.

For example I worked in a pub managed by a guy who worked in Porterhouse central for a year or two after it opened and was owned by a man who was a couple of years home from a ten year stint in New York. Between them they had somehow managed to miss that customers would appreciate a choice, when asked if we were getting the Smithwicks Pale Ale in my boss replied 'What? That Smithwicks Light ****e?' :rolleyes:

Here in Calgary craft beer is big, most beers are sold by the 6 pack, and they're isn't that much difference in the price between craft and macro depending what your getting. Nearly all bars will have something approaching a decent beer or two, and they don't stock 6 brands of the same lager, maybe two. They're a good few years ahead of us here.

The growth of craft beer will probably slow down in the next couple of years, but as far as I can see its here to stay. Its a global trend thats gathering more and more momentum.

Technocentral

On the up and up for sure, 3 pubs in Ranelagh and Milltown that had no Irish craft beers a year ago have at least O' Hara's now. The recession and the lower numbers probably had a part in them adding them though.

symbolic

BeerNut wrote: »

Wow. All bottles, I assume?

Yep all bottles. The barman mentioned if things sell well then taps will be on the way, reckoned they should have done it a long time ago.

Not sure if the O' Hara's stuff is doing too well, but he did say the Sierra Nevada is flying out the door.

I was really shocked to see them even bother do it there though. Works for me though.

Colonel Sanders

Was shocked to see The Morgue in Templeogue selling Punk on tap

Beer in a pub is expensive, I simply refuse to hand over €5+ for a pint of sloppy piss (Heineken/Carlsberg/Bud/Coors Light etc)

I don't see how chancing getting a few bottles in could be a big risk.

Bottom line is if you make an effort I'll drink in your pub, if you don't I won't

FWIW I don't drink wine at all but a few people I know who are into their wine say the exact same thing about pubs

irish_goat

Colonel Sanders wrote: »

Beer in a pub is expensive, I simply refuse to hand over €5+ for a pint of sloppy piss (Heineken/Carlsberg/Bud/Coors Light etc)

I'm the same. I use the Beoir app so I rarely walk into a pub without knowing if they sell craft beer but the odd time I am in one I can't bring myself to pay a fiver for a pint of slop when the same fiver can get me any number of decent beers elsewhere. http://www.tinyurl.com/BeoirFinder

schemingbohemia

Prop Joe wrote: »

Thats Ok in Offy's where the risk is low,But publicans are scared if they get a keg in they wont sell it...I just wish that they would chance it and actually push the beer,Get a few regulars drinking it and there would be no bother.

I'd nearly go as far as turning off a couple of the mainstream taps the odd day to get people to try it...But of course i'm not a publican.......anymore

Might not be the case now but I thought initially some of the micros sold half-sized kegs or am I mis-remembering/being thick?

Colonel Sanders wrote: »

Was shocked to see The Morgue in Templeogue selling Punk on tap

Beer in a pub is expensive, I simply refuse to hand over €5+ for a pint of sloppy piss (Heineken/Carlsberg/Bud/Coors Light etc)

I don't see how chancing getting a few bottles in could be a big risk.

Bottom line is if you make an effort I'll drink in your pub, if you don't I won't

FWIW I don't drink wine at all but a few people I know who are into their wine say the exact same thing about pubs

Man, times have changed, I worked as a lounge boy in the Morgue twenty years ago, it would have been the last place I'd have expected to see craft beer.

irish_goat

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Might not be the case now but I thought initially some of the micros sold half-sized kegs or am I mis-remembering/being thick?

Galway Hooker and 8 Degrees both sell small kegs and I would guess if a publican enquired nearly any of the others would get a few in.

Saruman

They do sell half kegs yes. There is no real excuse and if a publican fails to sell a beer, it's because he has failed to do his job. He's a salesman at the end of the day so it's up to him to sell the product. Sticking on a new hand pump and then forgetting about it and just hoping people notice and ask to try it is not how you sell a product.

Prop Joe

Saruman wrote: »

They do sell half kegs yes. There is no real excuse and if a publican fails to sell a beer, it's because he has failed to do his job. He's a salesman at the end of the day so it's up to him to sell the product. Sticking on a new hand pump and then forgetting about it and just hoping people notice and ask to try it is not how you sell a product.

I think we all know this but do the publican's or their staff?

For a small brewery to go into a bar it cost's alot of money.

A Tap and light,new lines and fittings,a fob,a Gas reg,Glassware,Point of Sale will set a small brewery the guts of a 1000 bucks.

Add in delivery costs,Line servicing,Renting of gas & you would be a long time waiting for a return on a bar that is selling a 20 litre keg every couple of weeks

Bigcheeze

Colonel Sanders wrote: »

I don't see how chancing getting a few bottles in could be a big risk.

Problem with bottles is that they're usually at floor level behind the bar and there is no real culture in Ireland of listing what is on sale on the wall or on a drinks menu. The vast majority of Irish people have decided what they're drinking long before they enter the premises. The glass doors on the fridges are designed so bar staff can see in, not the punter.

BeerNut

Also, bottles are usually priced too high to be a reasonable alternative to draught.

Colonel Sanders

Bigcheeze wrote: »

Problem with bottles is that they're usually at floor level behind the bar and there is no real culture in Ireland of listing what is on sale on the wall or on a drinks menu. The vast majority of Irish people have decided what they're drinking long before they enter the premises. The glass doors on the fridges are designed so bar staff can see in, not the punter.

Very fair point

I always look to see if there's anything other than the "usual suspects" available but I'm certainly in a minority amongst my friends & work colleagues

Colonel Sanders

Colonel Sanders wrote: »

Very fair point

I always look to see if there's anything other than the "usual suspects" available but I'm certainly in a minority amongst my friends & work colleagues

Also I love seeing a drinks menu in a place. I know they'll surely have at least a few non-mainstream beers

This is definitely an area that pubs could pick up on, especially if they're dipping their toes into the craft beer bottle market

Colonel Sanders

BeerNut wrote: »

Also, bottles are usually priced too high to be a reasonable alternative to draught.

Why is this? It's the case with just about all beer, micro & macro

I've often seen 330ml bottles of Heineken/Bud etc as expensive if not more than a pint (which is 568ml if memory serves me correctly which it probably doesn't)

Martyn1989

Saruman wrote: »

They do sell half kegs yes. There is no real excuse and if a publican fails to sell a beer, it's because he has failed to do his job. He's a salesman at the end of the day so it's up to him to sell the product. Sticking on a new hand pump and then forgetting about it and just hoping people notice and ask to try it is not how you sell a product.

He dosn't need an excuse, its his business. The way I see it you have one product that is backed by the multimillion ad campaign, that offer concessions for your business and promotional events, that is well known and extremely popular, in any other industry it would be acceptable to stay loyal to this company because its business. On the other hand you have another product, that offers none of these things but is better quality, a bit pricier and carries the 'support local business' draw. Is it not clear why many publicans are slow to give it a go?

Its not up to him to sell a product he dosn't want to stock, that attitude won't help craft beer go anywhere. Neither will the 'lets all go into a pub with no craft beer, ask for craft beer, and walk out all smug when they say they don't' idea, and as was rightly pointed out when this idea was floated somewhere around here, there could be no greater deterrent for a publican to stock craft beer. Why you would want to attract such people into a bar would be beyond me.

I'm all for craft beer but its not at the level that it will work in every pub yet. Even in the craft beer bars sometimes late in the evening you get that 'first pint out of the tap' taste which means its not selling.

Also I've heard of publicans having difficulty getting craft beer. I think there was a publican over on the Beoir forum who's calls were being ignored and those that would speak to him were unable to deliver to him.

I've heard of some issues with inconsistencies and the odd bad barrell from micros, and I've had the odd bad bottle or two which is ridiculous, its a pain for any business to receive bad stock.

Prop Joe wrote: »

I think we all know this but do the publican's or their staff?

For a small brewery to go into a bar it cost's alot of money.

A Tap and light,new lines and fittings,a fob,a Gas reg,Glassware,Point of Sale will set a small brewery the guts of a 1000 bucks.

Add in delivery costs,Line servicing,Renting of gas & you would be a long time waiting for a return on a bar that is selling a 20 litre keg every couple of weeks

All that is true, and if he's only selling a small quantity theres a good chance he'll have pints sent back which is never good. Its just common sense for publicans to stick to bottles for now, its about quality.

Bigcheeze wrote: »

Problem with bottles is that they're usually at floor level behind the bar and there is no real culture in Ireland of listing what is on sale on the wall or on a drinks menu. The vast majority of Irish people have decided what they're drinking long before they enter the premises. The glass doors on the fridges are designed so bar staff can see in, not the punter.

I cannot understand why most Irish pubs won't get a proper drinks menu, its the most backward way of operating I can imagine.

Prop Joe

Martyn1989 wrote: »

He dosn't need an excuse, its his business. The way I see it you have one product that is backed by the multimillion ad campaign, that offer concessions for your business and promotional events, that is well known and extremely popular, in any other industry it would be acceptable to stay loyal to this company because its business. On the other hand you have another product, that offers none of these things but is better quality, a bit pricier and carries the 'support local business' draw. Is it not clear why many publicans are slow to give it a go?

Its not up to him to sell a product he dosn't want to stock, that attitude won't help craft beer go anywhere. Neither will the 'lets all go into a pub with no craft beer, ask for craft beer, and walk out all smug when they say they don't' idea, and as was rightly pointed out when this idea was floated somewhere around here, there could be no greater deterrent for a publican to stock craft beer. Why you would want to attract such people into a bar would be beyond me.

I'm all for craft beer but its not at the level that it will work in every pub yet. Even in the craft beer bars sometimes late in the evening you get that 'first pint out of the tap' taste which means its not selling.

Also I've heard of publicans having difficulty getting craft beer. I think there was a publican over on the Beoir forum who's calls were being ignored and those that would speak to him were unable to deliver to him.

I've heard of some issues with inconsistencies and the odd bad barrell from micros, and I've had the odd bad bottle or two which is ridiculous, its a pain for any business to receive bad stock.



All that is true, and if he's only selling a small quantity theres a good chance he'll have pints sent back which is never good. Its just common sense for publicans to stick to bottles for now, its about quality.



I cannot understand why most Irish pubs won't get a proper drinks menu, its the most backward way of operating I can imagine.

That happens to every brewery even the big boys,I've returned plenty of Heineken,Carlsberg etc. Kegs over the years.

Most places craft beer on tap is no dearer than the mainstreams.

I understand you're point bout the marketing and promotion budgets though,Very hard to see micro's compete with the marketing budgets on the "new beers on draught" market Tiger,Grolsch etc..

Martyn1989

Prop Joe wrote: »

That happens to every brewery even the big boys,I've returned plenty of Heineken,Carlsberg etc. Kegs over the years.

Most places craft beer on tap is no dearer than the mainstreams.

I understand you're point bout the marketing and promotion budgets though,Very hard to see micro's compete with the marketing budgets on the "new beers on draught" market Tiger,Grolsch etc..

The only reason I've seen macro kegs returned is faulty kegs not faulty beer (though its arguably all faulty beer). I'm not anti micro, infact I'm the opposite, but theres more to it then 'every publican should give it a go'.

Micros in Ireland seem to have no advertising budget whatsoever, in the USA, Canada and the UK they seem to a bit more, but our guys rely on the support local businesses draw and the fact they make something different. They're probably better off not playing the big guys at there own game, stay away from advertising and lager

JessePinkman

A good idea would be for the VFI to pull together and make a move to split the drinks trade.Make companys choose between the on-trade and off.

So they could approach smaller Irish brewerys and say we will stock your product but stay away from the off license trade,That way the pubs could offer something that you cant get elsewhere,Whats killing the pubs is the fact you can buy whatever they sell at a fraction of the price in offys.

It would strenghtin both the pubs and offys

emco

I would have thought the biggest problem with craft beers getting on taps in alot of pubs would be the two major brewers here bullying/ bribery of pubs who try to stock something different. Offering free kegs to publicans who drop a rivals beer or even threatening to pull their product from a pub, which many publicans feel isn't worth the risk.

I don't claim to have any insider knowledge, but ya hear stuff like that.

JessePinkman

JessePinkman wrote: »

A good idea would be for the VFI to pull together and make a move to split the drinks trade.Make companys choose between the on-trade and off.

So they could approach smaller Irish brewerys and say we will stock your product but stay away from the off license trade,That way the pubs could offer something that you cant get elsewhere,Whats killing the pubs is the fact you can buy whatever they sell at a fraction of the price in offys.

It would strenghtin both the pubs and offys

I think that pubs/offies/brewers and ultimately the drinker would lose out in that scenario. I don't think limiting peoples choice of what drink they can buy and where they buy it is ever a good idea.

irish_goat

emco wrote: »

I would have thought the biggest problem with craft beers getting on taps in alot of pubs would be the two major brewers here bullying/ bribery of pubs who try to stock something different. Offering free kegs to publicans who drop a rivals beer or even threatening to pull their product from a pub, which many publicans feel isn't worth the risk.

I don't claim to have any insider knowledge, but ya hear stuff like that.

Here's a photo of Whitewater's Belfast Ale pump on Arthur's Day. Diageo bullying pubs that sell craft beer.

matrim

I was recently told in an off-license that stocks craft beer, that a Diageo rep told them to cut back on their stock of craft beer or their supplier prices would rise. It was a baseless threat but shows what Diageo try to do.

Knifey Spoony

^^^( irish goats' post above)

That kind of carry on was for every non-Diageo product that day and for every other event sponsored by Guinness (Cork Jazz Festival, local gigs etc) for all pubs that sold a mix of Diageo and other drinks. I remember trying to buy a pint of Heineken or Mi Daza Stout a couple of times during the last Jazz weekend when I was in a normal pub and being told that they aren't serving those and I would have to buy a Diageo produced beer if I really wanted a beer. Bastards one and all!

Just on the topic of major brewers bullying bars that choose to sell craft beers, I was talking to the owner of the Hub (a new craft beer establishment in Cork) a few weeks back and she was saying that when they went to re-brand the pub, they were put under pressure to put in a Heineken tap and being offered this and that, even though it was made clear that they wanted to sell nothing but craft beer. So, it's clear that major brewers are not happy with the competition that they are getting from the microbrewing industry and I, for one, and thrilled that this is happening.

GLaDOS

irish_goat wrote: »

I'm the same. I use the Beoir app so I rarely walk into a pub without knowing if they sell craft beer but the odd time I am in one I can't bring myself to pay a fiver for a pint of slop when the same fiver can get me any number of decent beers elsewhere. http://www.tinyurl.com/BeoirFinder

Only seeing this app now, excellent! Will be installing it when I get my new phone later in the week.

That's disgraceful, yet unsurprising, regarding Diageo bullying of other drinks companies.

hytrogen

For comparison, I'm over in the UK & most pubs sell local crafts or micro brewery treats by the barrel no bother. Yes it's more expensive but the punters prefer it for the shear choice and wide range of stuff available.
It's only when you go to a chain if pubs, like whetherspoons, you'll see Diageo on tap mostly because they can buy it in way larger quantities & fog it for half nothing! For example, outside the City, a pint of our great plain (Guinness) in a 'Spoons is something like £1.50??! Pint of local pale ale around £3.60 next door in an independent pub & that's base price.
All things aside of economies of punters versus demand, we're still being robbed back home in the local sadly & it's down to the supermarkets flogging cases for half nothing forcing people to stew at home & get legless before heading out on the town.

On another point, I love the micro brewery pubs concept & best place I've experienced them was in Cork ironically in pubs beside the Heineken brewery!

hytrogen

JessePinkman wrote: »

A good idea would be for the VFI to pull together and make a move to split the drinks trade.Make companys choose between the on-trade and off.

So they could approach smaller Irish brewerys and say we will stock your product but stay away from the off license trade,That way the pubs could offer something that you cant get elsewhere,Whats killing the pubs is the fact you can buy whatever they sell at a fraction of the price in offys.

It would strenghtin both the pubs and offys

More specifically, supermarket offy's. Take the hooch from the easy access lazy consumer & you'll clean up the streets from the ridiculous drink problem in society.
Out of a point of principal if I buy say a bottle of wine as a gift, I specifically buy it from an independent off-license, also because my local stocks a wide variety & I know & appreciate the lads there & their advice when purchasing.

the beer revolu

irish_goat wrote: »

Here's a photo of Whitewater's Belfast Ale pump on Arthur's Day. Diageo bullying pubs that sell craft beer.

To be fair, there's nothing forcing the pub to accept Diagio's free entertainment - it's part of the deal.
My local didn't have any taps covered.

BeerNut

hytrogen wrote: »

Take the hooch from the easy access lazy consumer & you'll clean up the streets from the ridiculous drink problem in society.

No you won't.

In Sweden alcohol off-sales over 3.5% ABV are very tightly controlled: government owned shops, no price promotions, very limited hours. Sweden's drink problem is worse than ours and their alcohol-related fatality rates are more than double Ireland's.

In Spain alcohol is cheap and readily available everywhere. Yet they're moderate, sensible drinkers.

Putting tighter restrictions on alcohol supply is proven to make things worse. Did you notice an improvement when Irish off licences were forced to close at 10pm? No, neither did I.

hytrogen

BeerNut wrote: »

No you won't.

In Sweden alcohol off-sales over 3.5% ABV are very tightly controlled: government owned shops, no price promotions, very limited hours. Sweden's drink problem is worse than ours and their alcohol-related fatality rates are more than double Ireland's.

In Spain alcohol is cheap and readily available everywhere. Yet they're moderate, sensible drinkers.

Putting tighter restrictions on alcohol supply is proven to make things worse. Did you notice an improvement when Irish off licences were forced to close at 10pm? No, neither did I.

No because they bought their hooch at the supermarket on the way home after work which Is my point, stop the easiest access on that front & then you'll see a significant improvement in society.
I do oppose what the brits were considering which Is a minimum unit value on alcohol & you're right there that regulation & constrainment would have a negative impact there too.
You're some-what right in both Sweden & Spain, however in Sweden they go out of their way to get cheap hooch by taking the ferry to Denmark & piling up the back of their V90 estate. Also, difference with Spain is it's in their culture not to get mouldy blotto for fear of ridicule & ex-communication from the local parish.

BeerNut

hytrogen wrote: »

stop the easiest access on that front & then you'll see a significant improvement in society.

That's not the case in Sweden. Why would it be the case here? Have you any evidence for your assertions?

hytrogen wrote: »

however in Sweden they go out of their way to get cheap hooch by taking the ferry to Denmark & piling up the back of their V90 estate.

Mmm-hmm. And you don't think cross-border bulk purchasing of alcohol would become more common in Ireland?

hytrogen wrote: »

Also, difference with Spain is it's in their culture not to get mouldy blotto for fear of ridicule

Now were getting somewhere. Yes, this is the case. And this is the only way we'll get a healthier drinking culture in Ireland: by making being drunk as socially unacceptable as it is in Spain. Restricting access to alcohol won't create this, nor will minimum pricing nor higher taxes. At best you inconvenience people; at worst you exacerbate the problem.

Drink isn't the problem. Drunk arsewits are the problem.

hytrogen

BeerNut wrote: »

That's not the case in Sweden. Why would it be the case here? Have you any evidence for your assertions?

Mmm-hmm. And you don't think cross-border bulk purchasing of alcohol would become more common in Ireland?

Now were getting somewhere. Yes, this is the case. And this is the only way we'll get a healthier drinking culture in Ireland: by making being drunk as socially unacceptable as it is in Spain. Restricting access to alcohol won't create this, nor will minimum pricing nor higher taxes. At best you inconvenience people; at worst you exacerbate the problem.

Drink isn't the problem. Drunk arsewits are the problem.

Well yes actually, from working on cruise ships where we sell duty free by the container-load each week onboard as well as allowing the punters to purchase ashore, we then confiscate it from them until the end of their cruise, thereby the only access onboard is to purchase it at the bar reduce the amount of blotto incidents of fights & crime as well as health related incidents (slips trips & falls). Company regs also give bar tenders the obligation to refuse a customer if they are blotto & / or abusive.
Now applying this micro climate principal to a broader sense, i.e. The supermarkets, it would clean up the streets.
Apologies OP for thread hogging to a completely separate discussion btw.
Sláinte

lanber man

Rody Bolands in Rathmines is definitely the place to go if you are looking for a craft beer. Never had i seen so many craft beers on tap. Lovely atmosphere aswell. Was a great experience

Blisterman

Sounds to me like the real reason the cruise ship confiscates alcohol off people is so that they spend more money at the bar.

hytrogen

Blisterman wrote: »

Sounds to me like the real reason the cruise ship confiscates alcohol off people is so that they spend more money at the bar.

We still sell it at low cost price cheaper than you'd get ashore per unit, it's purely safety reasons we take it off them so they don't binge in the cabin & fall off the balconies for example.

Prop Joe

It's not just the big boys that play unfair,I ve heard plenty stories of smaller brewerys sabotaging each other

Martyn1989

irish_goat wrote: »

Here's a photo of Whitewater's Belfast Ale pump on Arthur's Day. Diageo bullying pubs that sell craft beer.]

How exactly is this bullying? They are providing free beer and free entertainment and a busy day and night in September. It's fair enough that they only sell Diageo products at a Diageo sponsored event.

BeerNut

hytrogen wrote: »

the only access onboard is to purchase it at the bar reduce the amount of blotto incidents of fights & crime as well as health related incidents (slips trips & falls).

When was the confiscation policy introduced, and by how much -- just roughly -- were incidents reduced as a result?

hytrogen

hytrogen wrote: »

More specifically, supermarket offy's. Take the hooch from the easy access lazy consumer & you'll clean up the streets from the ridiculous drink problem in society.

I severely doubt it to be honest. I don't believe supermarkets are the cause of much trouble on the streets.Just for example, I work in a supermarket off license and we have the strictest serving policy. There are absolutely no underage sales, no drunks served and if any one passes through the door who even looks like they would cause anyone trouble security are escorting them out the door fairly sharpish. The same cannot be said for many independent off licenses.
Trouble on the streets in my opinion comes from drunks leaving the pubs (a safe and controlled environment according to the VFI :rolleyes: ) pissed out of their skulls. This is what needs to change.
If you want to clean up the streets it's peoples attitudes to drinking that need to change. As has been demonstrated time and time again restrictions on off licenses have made no difference. It just annoys people, and makes absolutely no difference to the real problem.