Why can’t we get free tapas ( snack food) like in Spain when we buy a mineral or alcohol drink here?

babyducklings1

So this is my question. In Spain you get a little snack ( tapas menu in the bars/ restaurants - with lots of choice) when you order a mineral or alcohol, in Ireland you get nothing. Why can’t we do this here?

Strumms

Lots of countries you get a big bowl of crisps or nuts served up free gratis. Plus tapas as you say..Spain, Portugal and a few other places it is normal.

they cost next to nothing to the business and it’s a nice courtesy.

Where here you can have a pub charge you nearly 3 euros for a packet of cheese and onion.

so two of you 18 euros for two pints and two packets of crisps..hmmmm

So when you can’t get an old bowl of crisps between a couple of you…. Tapas for nada ? Not happening.

They give you Bombay mix with a pint in some hotel pubs

ardinn

Not sure where your drinking but 12.40 where I am for that.

Anyway, in spain they pay commercial rates on the "inside" of the premises only, which is why some are no bigger than a toilet, and the seating is then all outside - It costs around 10k in rates to the council for the pub to have the privilege of simply existing every year, and thats for regular village/town bars - before they sell a drink. Spanish rates could be up to €300

Ireland's excise tax on spirits is 4.4 times that of Spain. 15 EU member states do not impose any excise tax on wine. Ireland has the highest excise tax on wine. Ireland's excise tax on a bottle of whiskey is €11.92.

Insurance in ireland for pubs is in the region of €10,000 pa. in spain this would be no more that €1500 for the same premises based on turnover.

There is a VERY long list of reasons why Irish publicans simply cant afford to lower their prices or offer a free tapas menu with your drinks, however most people will blame them for price gouging nonetheless!

Strumms

But then there be my local whose owners spent 3 million a couple of years back, purchasing a city centre pub in one of the most affluent streets in the city… that said the owner if he has a few pints on him and it’s a quiet night has the habit of throwing you a bag of crisps. 😂😵‍💫🫣

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058256456/why-can-t-we-get-free-tapas-snack-food-like-in-spain-when-we-buy-a-mineral-or-alcohol-drink-here

They are not free and it’s a cultural thing. Every single business accounts for the cost of the freebies they give you in deciding if their offering will be profitable. And you just don’t serve finger food with a pint! If Irish drinkers suddenly developed a liking for free finger food you could expect Irish publicans to step up and pints would be priced accordingly.

whisky_galore

Free salty snacks to encourage you to drink more, missing a trick here.

Gregor Samsa

Interesting fact: There's actually no Spanish translation for the common English phrase "There's no such thing as a free lunch".

foozzybear61

You could get a substantial meal for 9e a few months ago ...no pleasing some people at all at all