Publicans and 12 pubs of Christmas

Caliden

The owner of the Swan pub on Aungier Street has told the Irish Sun that he has banned the custom from his premises.

He told the paper: “Certainly later in the day they’re not welcome and we’ll make a judgement call if they’re in earlier.

“As a publican you’re not allowed by law to serve anyone who is drunk yet clearly score of people are drunk later in the day and getting served.”

The pub owner said he finds the new tradition a sloppy one, with the crawls being badly organised, and the customers it brings to his pub for the one evening, not being seen again in the year.

I doubt this fella has a problem with serving people on a regular Saturday night where many people have been served well beyond the point of being 'drunk''.


As for his line about not seeing them again in the year.....is his pub for regulars only then?
Bit of a joke to be honest. Not tarring all publicans with the same brush but first they complain about losing business and when they do get business they whinge just as much.


I was on a 12 pubs on Saturday myself and got turned away from this pub at number 4. Nobody within the group was drunk/messy as the whole thing was organised so that we spent 45 minutes in each pub so people weren't downing their drinks.

If certain publicans don't want my money, then that's grand but don't start crying when your business closes.


source: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/publicans-calling-time-on-boozy-12-pubs-of-christmas-29829531.html

Super-Rush

If a group comes into his pub at say 9pm how is he going to know they are on the 12 pubs?

Is he going to stop all groups coming into his pub?

He'd only know if they leave after the one drink.

Will they have to piss the drink back into their glasses?

Slunk

In fairness I was in town on Saturday around 6pm and the amount of people I seen already pissed walking around with high heels in hand and pint glasses was shocking. Expect to see it after midnight but not when the city is still packed with tourists and people out shopping.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for having a few drinks but this 12 pubs lark is just a recipe for disaster as most can't handle what's involved.

danniemcq

could work the other way though.

if people are looking for a quiet drink or 3 and they know there isn't gonna be a group of drunken fools coming in then they might head there instead.

irish_goat

Super-Rush wrote: »

If a group comes into his pub at say 9pm how is he going to know they are on the 12 pubs?

It's nearly always blatantly obvious if they're on a 12 pubs.

Publicity.

He obviously thinks by being vocal about not allowing 12 pubs folk in, he'll sell himself to the ones who hate having a drink surrounded by christmas jumpers, but as Super-Rush says - How does he know they're on 12 pubs? Everyone wears christmas jumpers these days.

Super-Rush

irish_goat wrote: »

It's nearly always blatantly obvious if they're on a 12 pubs.

How though?

Unless they actually say they are on the 12 pubs.

It could be a group of people having a drink together before going for a meal or after football training or just having a drink.

minidazzler

irish_goat wrote: »

It's nearly always blatantly obvious if they're on a 12 pubs.

Was gonna post this....

You'll always have the planks with the mass produced Xmas jumpers complete with flashing lights...... and if they get a chance they'll tell you they are on a 12 pubs, as if it's some badge of honour....

I'd go to a minimum of 8 pubs on a long night out, so I suppose I'm a little different to the regular, but this "surviving" 12 pubs seems stupid to me.

Alf Veedersane

If I wasn't let into a pub that I never normally go to while on a 12 Pubs of Christmas crawl, I'd just decide to never darken their doorstep again and pick another of the numerous pubs in the city to go to.

SteelyDanJalapeno

Where did the Publicans and their high horse over 12 pubs come from?

One of the few days in the year where a larger amount of people will come out early and go to pubs instead of drinking cans in the house then going straight to the club, and they want to turn them away? They'll be moaning about no business in January.

They'll get a few groups of 10+ people in throughout the day, they're guaranteed everyone will be buying a drink it's shocking that they're turning their nose up at a couple of thousand worth of extra revenue over the Christmas period.

This could easily lead to whatever groups are turned away never returning to the pub, and if they had been weekly regulars then the pub could be easily down 10k plus for the year.

The mind boggles

gobnaitolunacy

The pubs that turn away potential customers tend to be the ones that aren't likely to close anytime.

Heard from someone who ran a pub down the country that they wouldn't bar a 'professional' drinker who pissed against the counter, just because he was one of their best customers.

The Glass Key

12 pubs and 45 minutes in each one

minidazzler

Super-Rush wrote: »

How though?

Unless they actually say they are on the 12 pubs.

It could be a group of people having a drink together before going for a meal or after football training or just having a drink.

You'll get a good indication by how they come in the door. Generally looking for the stragglers, they'll be louder than most groups going out for a meal, there will be at least a few of them wearing novelty jumpers or ties, or in the worst cases all of them wearing the same ones. They'll rarely sit down.

But overall it's a feeling you get about the group that they are a 12 pubs group. Most bartenders would recognise one a mile off.


*DISCLAIMER: Whoopsa, I've no problem with Xmas jumpers, just mass produced Pennies ones.... they're not the same as the cool ones that nana's make *

Michael D Not Higgins

I'm not physically able to do 12 pubs in a row any longer. I joined the 12 pubs last year around pub 6 or 7, and will be doing the same this year.

irish_goat

Super-Rush wrote: »

How though?

Unless they actually say they are on the 12 pubs.

It could be a group of people having a drink together before going for a meal or after football training or just having a drink.

There's a few tell tale signs.

Usually over done it on novelty Christmas clothing and accessories.
There's always one over-organised person with a list of pubs/rules or a map and they'll be barking out orders to people when they come in.
I've seen the latest thing is to get a photo outside the pub with a sign indicating what number you're on (then you can laugh at people who aren't in the photo with a number 12). So you'll see someone with a stack of numbers printed out.
You'll hear them discussing rules e.g. you'll hear girls saying "we have to drink beer here and I hate beer!"
They also tend to be far drunker far earlier than a regular group of people out for Christmas drinks.

GLaDOS

Was out on Saturday night and it was pretty easy to pick out groups on 12 pubs because they were falling around the place compared to everyone else, decked out in Christmas jumpers (and some other fairly ridiculous stuff) and sat right next to the door so they could launch straight to the next pub.

It's not really feasible to ban it, but I can understand why it would annoy publicans if the regular patrons prefer a more relaxed atmosphere.

EyeSight

I think he means he can spot a large group of really drunk people wearing Xmas jumpers. Not specifically 12 pubs groups

I can see his point. This bar is usually full of regulars and not too roudy. Why piss off his regulars for the sake of a quick buck?

The Backwards Man

Once people get to the fourth or fifth pub they are more hassle than they are worth, messy, loud and drink fcuk all. If I had a pub I wouldn 't let them in either.

SteelyDanJalapeno

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Once people get to the fourth or fifth pub they are more hassle than they are worth, messy, loud and drink fcuk all. If I had a pub I wouldn 't let them in either.

If you rejected a group of us on one night, you wouldn't see us there for the rest of the year either

Alf Veedersane

Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »

I'm not physically able to do 12 pubs in a row any longer. I joined the 12 pubs last year around pub 6 or 7, and will be doing the same this year.

I'd rather do 12 pints in one pub.

Corvo

Deleted User wrote: »

Publicity.

He obviously thinks by being vocal about not allowing 12 pubs folk in, he'll sell himself to the ones who hate having a drink surrounded by christmas jumpers, but as Super-Rush says - How does he know they're on 12 pubs? Everyone wears christmas jumpers these days.

:eek:

The Backwards Man

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Once people get to the fourth or fifth pub they are more hassle than they are worth, messy, loud and drink fcuk all. If I had a pub I wouldn 't let them in either.

So? My first job was in a pub/supermarket run by a 85 year old woman. I remember if she ever had a run in with a customer who threatened not to come back she always said

'That's fine dear. I never sent for you anyway.'

She was a multi millionaire.

Fattes

About time, I have to say the large % of 12 pub groups are obnoxious idiots, who actually ruin the atmosphere in most pubs I frequent over Christmas! I am a non drinker but enjoy sitting with friends and catching up over December while in town.

The last few years on multiple occasions we have been stuck beside a group of morons on drinking games, dressed as twats and behaving like teenagers!

About time it died!

Gyalist

Deleted User wrote: »

Publicity.

He obviously thinks by being vocal about not allowing 12 pubs folk in, he'll sell himself to the ones who hate having a drink surrounded by christmas jumpers, but as Super-Rush says - How does he know they're on 12 pubs? Everyone wears christmas jumpers these days.

The Swan is unusual for a city centre pub in that it is mostly local regulars and RCSI/DIT students who drink there.

minidazzler

12 pubs groups are large groups of people who barely drink from one end of the year to another pretending they can drink like the rest of us for one night a year and failing miserably.


The amount of groups I've been invited to on facebook with people who know nothing about bars in Cork is stupid. Needless to say I'll be having my own piss ups where the plan is wherever the night takes us.

Michael D Not Higgins

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

I'd rather do 12 pints in one pub.

I'm not living in Ireland anymore so it's usually the best time of year to catch up with people I haven't seen. There's no way you could get to see everyone otherwise.

Basic common sense, he'll let them in earlier but not later, in other words he doesn't want a bunch of rowdy arseholes coming in for a round of drinks and pissing off everyone else in the pub.

BraziliaNZ

I saw these idiots in pubs last Xmas when I was home for a bit, and tbh they really did my head in. I was drinking away on my own in a small bar in the city centre, when suddenly it was packed with 2 groups of these idiots in Xmas jumpers being loud and obnoxious.
It's a ridiculous concept in my opinion, no need for it. When did this nonsense start? In the last few years?

listermint

To be fair to this guy, he was reasonable enough about it. One of my mates was in last week chatting with him about it midweek while having a quiet one.

He is not a bad guy and it stands to reason, would you as a bar owner like a bunch of lads/lasses coming into your premises effectively being load and brash etc etc (i know this because ive been on several of these over the years) and then leaving after 20-30 minutes. Only for another shower to come in after.

Id probably be against me coming in too to be totally fair. So i can see his point really. There would be normal regular customers or weekly customers in there having drinks and staying the night. Large groups rambling in and out en masse isnt really superb is it ?

Alf Veedersane

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

I saw these idiots in pubs last Xmas when I was home for a bit, and tbh they really did my head in. I was drinking away on my own in a small bar in the city centre, when suddenly it was packed with 2 groups of these idiots in Xmas jumpers being loud and obnoxious.
It's a ridiculous concept in my opinion, no need for it. When did this nonsense start? In the last few years?

Oh. Em. Jee.

You haven't lived until you've run around town, drinking a pint in each one, wearing a stupid jumper that you go in Penneys, getting messy and pis*sing off an average of 25 people per pub.

It's a laugh-riot.

Jarrod

A friend of mine was doing 12 pubs last weekend with his gf. I'd never done it but said I'd meet him for a pint in the first pub as I hadn't seen him in ages. I got there and it was exactly like others have described, Christmas jumpers, santa hats and more 'rules' than you could shake a stick at.

Anyway, I'm almost finished my pint, thinking 'I might have one more and head home', when some fcuking fun-nazi starts ringing a bell telling everyone to move to the next pub, remembering you're only allowed turn right because left handed turns aren't allowed and shots will be given as penalties. Anyway, I leaned to my mate and discussed how **** the 'craic and banter' was and we decided to split from the group. We went to 3 more pubs with 2 or 3 pints in each and had a great night.

TL;DR - Pub crawls: Great craic. 12 pubs: A load of sh1te run by fun-nazis having 'the banter' or some other sh1te.

minidazzler

Jarrod wrote: »

Anyway, I'm almost finished my pint, thinking 'I might have one more and head home', when some fcuking fun-nazi starts ringing a bell telling everyone to move to the next pub,

They had a fcuking bell? Are you sure the bell end wasn't just shaking his head? What a prick.

Caliden

Jarrod wrote: »

A friend of mine was doing 12 pubs last weekend with his gf. I'd never done it but said I'd meet him for a pint in the first pub as I hadn't seen him in ages. I got there and it was exactly like others have described, Christmas jumpers, santa hats and more 'rules' than you could shake a stick at.

Anyway, I'm almost finished my pint, thinking 'I might have one more and head home', when some fcuking fun-nazi starts ringing a bell telling everyone to move to the next pub, remembering you're only allowed turn right because left handed turns aren't allowed and shots will be given as penalties. Anyway, I leaned to my mate and discussed how **** the 'craic and banter' was and we decided to split from the group. We went to 3 more pubs with 2 or 3 pints in each and had a great night.

TL;DR - Pub crawls: Great craic. 12 pubs: A load of sh1te run by fun-nazis having 'the banter' or some other sh1te.

I have to agree about the rules. Completely counter productive. You're there to have a laugh but someone telling you that you HAVE to do a shot because you took a drink with your left hand is too far.
I don't HAVE to do anything my dear....and then you're apparently 'no craic' :rolleyes:

Alf Veedersane

minidazzler wrote: »

They had a fcuking bell? Are you sure the bell end wasn't just shaking his head? What a prick.

It isn't unusual for this 12 pubs palaver.

Jarrod

minidazzler wrote: »

They had a fcuking bell? Are you sure the bell end wasn't just shaking his head? What a prick.

Yep, a fcuking bell. At first I thought she was doing it in a sort of light-hearted way but when I didn't immediately finish my drink on hearing the bell she confronted me on it for being a 'dry sh1te'. Because obviously enjoying a pint with a mate you haven't seen in a while is rubbish compared to moping around in the cold from pub to pub with fcuking rules involved.

anncoates

Fair play to anybody banning them.

Was out Saturday night just gone and some of the 12 pubs groups - not all of course - were a nuisance to be honest.

bumper234

I used to work as a doorman and these muppets used to piss me off so bad. Got to a stage where I just wouldn't let them in as the trouble caused far outweighed the monetary value of their custom.

anncoates

TiltedBrain wrote: »

Where did the Publicans and their high horse over 12 pubs come from?

I know somebody that owns a pub and it's basically (regular) customer-driven.

If the groups are annoying their regulars, why would they let them?

Not saying all people in the groups are bad or that regular customers don't get messy (I was hardly sober myself) but my experience at the weekend was that the On The Clock vibe of the 12 pubs crawl leads to a bigger surge than usual at the bar and definitely a lot more people that seem not used to drinking large amounts. Plus there is some ringleader going around herding people in and out.

Essentially It struck me as usual Christmas drinking beahviour but basically speeded up. The groups definitely stand out even in the pissed up atmosphere of Christmas.

I actually left one of my regular spots (been drinking there for 20 odd years) after a pint because of it. Now if you're saying that a successful city centre pub is going to alienate regular customers to cater for groups for whom the majority will not be back again for a year, it's a no-brainer.

Dravokivich

TiltedBrain wrote: »

If you rejected a group of us on one night, you wouldn't see us there for the rest of the year either

For the whole couple of weeks that are in it? :pac:

But think about it clearly though, what's a round of drinks worth to him, when a lot of these groups are just going to be moving on all the time. He's not going to be missing out on any big business rejecting these groups. He's looking to protect the business he has, by stating the type of pub he runs.

Holsten

Where the hell did this 12 pubs thing even come from?

I wouldn't let them in either, I wish more pubs would take this stance and try and stamp out this stupid thing.

razorblunt

Holsten wrote: »

Where the hell did this 12 pubs thing even come from?

I wouldn't let them in either, I wish more pubs would take this stance and try and stamp out this stupid thing.

Right so where do you draw the line on groups and groups wanting to hit a few pubs then?
Can they do 4 pubs with 3 drinks in each? 6x2, 3x4?

12 Pubs is just a pub crawl, if it's organised well it can be great fun, use a proper time i.e. 45 mins or so like someone said, food to break it up, it can be fine.
It's the idiots that use these rules and bring bells and flashing lights that ruin it for everyone.

SteelyDanJalapeno

Dravokivich wrote: »

For the whole couple of weeks that are in it? :pac:

But think about it clearly though, what's a round of drinks worth to him, when a lot of these groups are just going to be moving on all the time. He's not going to be missing out on any big business rejecting these groups. He's looking to protect the business he has, by stating the type of pub he runs.

Or any other year.

Group of 10 of us drinking weekly in a pub, 4-5 drinks each at 5 euro a pop.

10k - 12k potential loss a year for one group?

For the sake of not letting them in for one drink when they're out having some fun with Christmas jumpers on?

anncoates

razorblunt wrote: »

It's the idiots that use these rules and bring bells and flashing lights that ruin it for everyone.

As in the majority of them?

Holsten

razorblunt wrote: »

Right so where do you draw the line on groups and groups wanting to hit a few pubs then?
Can they do 4 pubs with 3 drinks in each? 6x2, 3x4?

12 Pubs is just a pub crawl, if it's organised well it can be great fun, use a proper time i.e. 45 mins or so like someone said, food to break it up, it can be fine.
It's the idiots that use these rules and bring bells and flashing lights that ruin it for everyone.

Yeah that would be the majority of people. Irish people just cannot deal with alcohol properly.

You draw the line wherever you want, it's your pub, although you could spot these people a mile away.

anncoates

TiltedBrain wrote: »

Or any other year.

Group of 10 of us drinking weekly in a pub, 4-5 drinks each at 5 euro a pop.

10k - 12k potential loss a year for one group?

For the sake of not letting them in for one drink when they're out having some fun with Christmas jumpers on?

I can just tell from the wounded outrage of your posts that you're the one that calls the bouncer a gorilla and threatens to sue the pub by Pub 9.

conorhal

TiltedBrain wrote: »

If you rejected a group of us on one night, you wouldn't see us there for the rest of the year either

I believe that the publicans point was that he doesn't see you the rest of the year anyway, so putting up with a group of ferociously drunk eejits dragging a semi concious mate in the door while slurring their way through 'On the 12th Day of Christmas' at the top of their lungs after their 10th pint isn't worth the hassle.

SparkySpitfire

Why is everyone hating on Christmas jumpers? So if I go into a pub now this Christmas while wearing one they'll refuse me entry? Seriously?

rubadub

Super-Rush wrote: »

how is he going to know they are on the 12 pubs?

Deleted User wrote: »

How does he know they're on 12 pubs?

I think people are being to literal and going on in an almost legalistic way. He simply does not want gangs of drunks, just like some bars might refuse stag parties, of gangs of drunk people in general. He gets free media advertising for his bar which might attract people who want a quiet drink.

If a gang comes in and quietly have a drink and then leave and say "aha, we caught you out, we're actually doing the 12 days of christmas!" I doubt he is going to give a damn, its not what he wanted to prevent happening.

So the reply to "how will he tell" is, -if he cannot obviously tell then it's probably not an issue for him.

bumper234

conorhal wrote: »

I believe that the publicans point was that he doesn't see you the rest of the year anyway, so putting up with a group of ferociously drunk eejits dragging a semi concious mate in the door while slurring their way through 'On the 12th Day of Christmas' at the top of their lungs after their 10th pint isn't worth the hassle.

^^^^

Exactly!

If you see a group of your regular customers arriving then of course you allow them in. It's the group of random people (usually 1 or 2 being held up) that come to the pub shouting and bellowing who then proceed to the bar en mass shoving people out of the way to get served and then proceed to "sing" loudly and shout at the top of their voices. These are the ones any decent publican wouldn't want in.

bumper234

SparkySpitfire wrote: »

Why is everyone hating on Christmas jumpers? So if I go into a pub now this Christmas while wearing one they'll refuse me entry? Seriously?

If you are pissed, shouting at the top of your lungs and basically being a nuisance then yes. If you are just out for a beer then no.

bumper234

SparkySpitfire wrote: »

Why is everyone hating on Christmas jumpers? So if I go into a pub now this Christmas while wearing one they'll refuse me entry? Seriously?

If you are pissed, shouting at the top of your lungs and basically being a nuisance then yes. If you are just out for a beer then no.