Publicans lobby suggests closing the off-licenses

Muahahaha

I can see this going down like a lead balloon, the head of the VFI has suggested closing the off licenses on the grounds of public health.

“If house parties are the problem in the spread of the disease, you’ve got to go back and say, what’s fuelling the house parties? And what’s fuelling the house parties is the cheap alcohol out of supermarkets.

“You’ve got to do one of two things in relation to that. You’ve got to either bring in the minimum unit pricing, that’s already on our statute books … that’s one option.

The second option, which is a lot less palatable maybe for a lot of people, is that if we’re in such a bind, if the numbers are increasing at such a rate what we actually need to do is look at whether we should take a period of three weeks and actually stop the sale of alcohol in off licences for that period.

When asked if he was calling for prohibition, Cribben said: “If you want to call it that.”

https://www.thejournal.ie/pubs-reopening-in-ireland-5188678-Aug2020/

Funny he complains in the same article about jobs being lost in the pub trade but then suggests something that would lose jobs in the off license trade as well. The hyprocrisy is absolutely dripping off these guys.

exaisle

They would say that, wouldn't they...

Gregor Samsa

We’ll be quaffing bootlegged moonshine In speakeasys before long.

walshb

We're suffering, you better be suffering!!!!!

Zebra3

Supermarkets in Newry endorse the Vermin Federation of Ireland idea.

I'm sure the state with its' depleted revenues would be more than happy to bring this in.

the purple tin

That would start a nice little black market racket smuggling it in from the North, help to fund criminal gangs.
Prohibition in the US was what made organised crime so powerful.

gigantic09

Gregor Samsa wrote: »

We’ll be quaffing bootlegged moonshine In speakeasys before long.

And hosting flapper parties (with up to 6 people from 3 different households of course).

McMurphy

These VFI lads ought to be shot with balls of their own shyte, if they had their way no-one in the state would be allowed a drink, unless it was by prescription, or bought in one of their establishments where by some miracle or another - the drink they sell is absolutely problem free, dangerous, nor detrimental to one's health (like they say they stuff in the off-licence is)

Captain no craic the lot of them, unless it's being spent in some of their overpriced and dirty dives of course.

the purple tin

McMurphy wrote: »

These VFI lads ought to be shot with balls of their own shyte, if they had their way no-one in the state would be allowed a drink, unless it was by prescription, or bought in one of their establishments where by some miracle or another - the drink they sell is absolutely problem free, dangerous, nor detrimental to one's health (like they say they stuff in the off-licence is)

Captain no craic the lot of them, unless it's being spent in some of their overpriced and dirty dives of course.

They are full of it alright but also a powerful lobby group. I'd say over half the Dail would have some financial interest in a pub.

Signore Fancy Pants

I don't bother going to pubs anymore, even pre-Covid.

The VFI are a bunch of wankbags and Id have no interest supporting them nor their publican chums.

Coqwombles!

A bunch of clowns.

Are they really all that powerful anymore, we've held most of them closed since mid march without any political blowback.

murpho999

Basically VFI only want alcohol to be sold on their premises at their prices.

They have completely exaggerated the house party issue to suit their needs.

Despicable bunch and it makes it hard for me to feel some of the ones that are forced to close.

Zebra3

Can we have a poll on this topic? :pac:

Cienciano

It's the pub lobby lads. They have one objective and one objective only. Make money for pubs. They were against cafe bars, they were against smoking bans, they were against lowering blood alcohol limits for drink driving.

Are we that surprised this is their stance? They would close everything except for the pubs if they could.

freshpopcorn

Mother Freshpopcorn better get the whiskey in for the Christmas cakes!

odyssey06

I assume the publicans will be waiving their covid-19 payments in lieu of the excise revenue from off sales?
Did I miss that in their 'modest proposal'?

MrStuffins

Anyone know where all these phantom house parties are taking place?

TheValeyard

dan1895

This is like the cinemas being forced to close and them asking the government to ban Netflix.

Billy Mays

Just when I was starting to have a little bit of sympathy for publicans...

Deebles McBeebles

Fairly pathetic framing it as a concern for public health when its clearly about money. VFI can go f*ck themselves. Pubs are outdated and overpriced, half of them were in financial trouble before Covid-19 hit. They'll be asking for subsidies next.

MOH

MrStuffins wrote: »

Anyone know where all these phantom house parties are taking place?

Fair few going on around me regularly, even at the height of lockdown.

Edgware

The Untouchables are back in business.

Dempo1

There just being childish and silly, I sympathise with rural and non food pubs but trying to restrict other sectors hardly an appropriate response. The lobby group might be better served (no pun intended) critising those on their own grouping acting the maggot, I've a rural pub now doing a deal with village chipper, absolute joke and I know another that has a freezer full of Tesco Pizza's to get around the food requirement. One group recently delighted with themselves sitting over one pizza between 5 for almost 6 hours.

MrMusician18

In fairness, quote a number of clusters have been associated with social gatherings in homes.

As for closing the off trade. That would likely kill off the remaining public support, which is already on shaky ground.

VFI should be aiming for more realistic goals such as the allowing of so called wet pubs to open to only serve outside. To allow councils to allow pubs to operate temporarily on the pavement where they don't have the space outside. To allow table service only.

As frustrating as it must be for them looking on, there is so much they could be doing rather than trying to bring everyone down with them. Innovation was never their thing however.

s1ippy

Edgware wrote: »

The Untouchables are back in business.

I touched one. Got a bad dose of the clap and four years. Not worth it imo.

super_furry

If there's one thing drug dealers hate, it's competition.

osarusan

VFI are Eamon-Ryan-esque in their ability to totally misjudge just how stupid the public will think their opinion is.

25% off wine in Sainsbury Newry this weekend. ‘Tis cheaper always, anyway. Happy days

SlowMotion321

I live in a basement apt below street level, exit out the back! 3 knocks 1 knock 3 knocks, free temperature check at the door bring your own mixers, the gin is of the bathtub variety, ye can come in if ye speak easy so the neighbors don't hear, jazz musicians will be shot on sight!

Quantum Erasure

MrStuffins wrote: »

Anyone know where all these phantom house parties are taking place?

Nice try, narc

fergiesfolly

I think the public should boycott VFI pubs when they're allows reopen.

And I'll lose what little faith I have left in this government ( very very little left) if they start taking public health advice from an organisation designed to sell the most abused drug in Irish society.

Quantum Erasure

Deleted User wrote: »

25% off wine in Sainsbury Newry this weekend. ‘Tis cheaper always, anyway. Happy days

Youd want to be getting a fair bit to make it worthwhile

Ohmeha

Won't be long before Vintners calls for supermarkets/takeaways to be shut so the population can only eat meals in their pubs in a 'safe and controlled environment'

Gregor Samsa

Quantum Erasure wrote: »

Youd want to be getting a fair bit to make it worthwhile

Not if you live in Dundalk.

the purple tin

walshb wrote: »

We're suffering, you better be suffering!!!!!

If we can't get our hands on your money, we will make sure nobody else can either.

Galwayguy35

If the Government give heed to this idea then they really have lost the plot.

The VFI need to keep their future customers on side for when they do re open, not piss them off by trying to ban people buying reasonably priced booze at the offie.

SlowMotion321

Sooo glad I don't drink anymore, if I did I think I would be spitting nails at the thought of those greasy cnuts couching their venality in concern for public health! You only have to go to a bar in almost any other country to realise how much they and their pocket politicians have been fcuking the punters up the ass without so much as a greasing or reach around for years! See! I'm so much more sanguine now!

Muahahaha

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

If the Government give heed to this idea then they really have lost the plot.

The VFI need to keep their future customers on side for when they do re open, not piss them off by trying to ban people buying reasonably priced booze at the offie.

The thing is not all pubs are signed and paid up members of the VFI. For some of those that are they display a VFI sticker in their window but equally there would be pubs that are members of the VFI but they keep it quiet and dont display the sticker because they know the VFI name is toxic to their customers.

Ive heard rumours before in towns where a new publican comes into the market if he tries undercutting prices there will be a visit from the local VFI reps informing him of how things work around there. They've always been known as quite a militant union, they will protect their patch at all costs even if that means coming out with crazy ideas like closing the off licenses.

MrMusician18

Quantum Erasure wrote: »

Nice try, narc

Where's the narc?

Muahahaha

They're at it again

The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland tweeted: “We all have a duty to behave responsibly.

“Scenes last night in Killarney hugely upsetting for everyone following the guidelines and for publicans desperate to open.”

A Twitter page that represents pubs in Co Kerry posted: “Disgusted for all law-abiding publicans to see scenes like this in Killarney last night, especially while the majority of pubs are still shut down.

“Close down the business that sold them the takeaway pints immediately and enforce the new garda laws.”

https://www.thejournal.ie/killarney-pubs-social-media-footage-5190388-Aug2020/