Free food and Coffee for the Gardai in some establishments.

MidlandsM · 08-10-2012 4:22pm #1

...and yes, it's the establishments choice to award food and/or drinks to a member of the Gardai but my question is, should a member of the Gardai accept such like?

I was in a very busy Topaz filling station where I always see lots of member of the force having their "break" the other day. There was a long Queue waiting to pay for stuff at the tills, which I was in. I know the girl at one of the tills and I noted a discreet exchange between her and a Garda who just got a coffee and some sort of snack.....she said "you're grand,no charge" ....and he just said "thanks" .......lots of people noted the Freebie, and lots of eye's rolled to heaven....

Personally I think he should insist on paying for it.....it look like a "Stroke" Freebie to me......

what do you think?

seamus · 08-10-2012 4:23pm

If you were being offered it for free, would you refuse?

No, of course you wouldn't. Double standards.

eth0 · 08-10-2012 4:23pm

Don't all the guards fill up at Toppaz because they have fuel cards there? Used to live almost across the road from one and you could rarely look at the place without seeing a squad car

krudler · 08-10-2012 4:24pm

you'll always find a petrol station thats populated by guards, there's one near Henry St station in Limerick that always has a squadcar or two in the forecourt, handy for the business, few free cups of coffee, chances of being help up are greatly reduced.

AnonoBoy · 08-10-2012 4:25pm

Standard practice to entice law enforcement to shop on your premises. If they frequent there people are less likely to rob you.

Dunkin' Donuts offer discounts in the States to cops.

clint_eastman · 08-10-2012 4:25pm

I think.... she said "you're grand,no charge" ....and he just said "thanks"....what's the problem?

OU812 · 08-10-2012 4:25pm

If I was running a place that's likely to be held up several times per year, then I'd be giving them freebies too. The more Garda around, the better !

Boombastic · 08-10-2012 4:26pm

I hope they are declaring their extra benefits on their tax forms

fishy fishy · 08-10-2012 4:27pm

garda, taxi-drivers, emergency staff - they all get freebies in supermarkets - they always get free coffee in various supermarkets and take-aways. its because they are out doing a job that they get no thanks for, just abuse.

Why not give them free coffees.

Did you not know that taxi-drivers/emergency staff get them also, or did you just want to highlight gardai getting them.

MidlandsM · 08-10-2012 4:28pm

seamus wrote: »

If you were being offered it for free, would you refuse?

No, of course you wouldn't. Double standards.

how would i have double standards when I'd not accept a freebie, and pay for it.

Boombastic · 08-10-2012 4:29pm

fishy fishy wrote: »

garda, taxi-drivers, emergency staff - they all get freebies in supermarkets - they always get free coffee in various supermarkets and take-aways. its because they are out doing a job that they get no thanks for, just abuse.

Why not give them free coffees.

Did you not know that taxi-drivers/emergency staff get them also, or did you just want to highlight gardai getting them.

Who doesn't thank them? The lady in the shop is with free coffee

It amounts to bribery. 2 shops on the same street are robbed. Which one does the Gardai prioritise? - the one that gives them freebies of course -

girl in the striped socks · 08-10-2012 4:29pm

Surely it's the shops own business who they give free coffee & snacks to?
Honestly, you make it sound like that guard was getting offered an amazing kickback as a thank you from the business. It's a miserable cup of coffee & a snack.

*waits for Garda bashing to ensue*

pah · 08-10-2012 4:29pm

My topaz charges €1 and it even says "Coffee Garda" on the till. I've no problem with it although I wouldn't take a free one.

Could be an agreement higher up as the fleet does all fuel business with topaz. I have been offered freebies before, chipper etc but rarely accept. On one occasion I was basically told "you can have it for free or you can't have it at all!!" no point arguing with that.

fishy fishy · 08-10-2012 4:30pm

Boombastic wrote: »

Who doesn't thank them? The lady in the shop is with free coffee.

no, its not the lady in the shop - the lady in the shop has been told not to charge them. It's common practice and has been going on for years not only with guards, but with other taxi/emergency workers also.

fishy fishy · 08-10-2012 4:31pm

Boombastic wrote: »

Who doesn't thank them? The lady in the shop is with free coffee

It amounts to bribery. 2 shops on the same street are robbed. Which one does the Gardai prioritise? - the one that gives them freebies of course -

oh please, that's crazy. In that case, all the taxis would go there first, and if there was every an accident the emergency services would go there first. Thats quite silly.

whatdoicare · 08-10-2012 4:33pm

Bus drivers get the same deal as far as I know, especially if they're with a tour group.
I don't really care TBH, let them get the free stuff, if they're hanging around the gas stations there'll be less occassions of people driving off with free petrol etc

Boombastic · 08-10-2012 4:33pm

fishy fishy wrote: »

no, its not the lady in the shop - the lady in the shop has been told not to charge them. It's common practice and has been going on for years not only with guards, but with other taxi/emergency workers also.

Ok so the shop is thanking them - still not a job they get "no thanks for"

Just because it's been going on for years doesn't mean it's not a backhander

3ndahalfof6 · 08-10-2012 4:33pm

hey Paulie and Bobby told them to.

Praetorian Saighdiuir · 08-10-2012 4:33pm

I have been given free food / drinks on a number of occasions. It's silly, I just end up putting the amount into the charity box instead. I dont know why people do it.

seamus · 08-10-2012 4:34pm

MidlandsM wrote: »

how would i have double standards when I'd not accept a freebie, and pay for it.

Sure you would. "No no, here, take my money, I don't want it free".

girl in the striped socks · 08-10-2012 4:35pm

Boombastic wrote: »

fishy fishy wrote: »

no, its not the lady in the shop - the lady in the shop has been told not to charge them. It's common practice and has been going on for years not only with guards, but with other taxi/emergency workers also.

Ok so the shop is thanking them - still not a job they get "no thanks for"

Just because it's been going on for years doesn't mean it's not a backhander

Are you seriously saying a cup of coffee is a backhander?

AnonoBoy · 08-10-2012 4:35pm

benwavner wrote: »

I have been given free food / drinks on a number of occasions. It's silly, I just end up putting the amount into the charity box instead. I dont know why people do it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgVwfeCgZKQ

velo.2010 · 08-10-2012 4:35pm

OMG, Gardai Involved in Filling Station Protection Racket!

Boombastic · 08-10-2012 4:36pm

fishy fishy wrote: »

oh please, that's crazy. In that case, all the taxis would go there first, and if there was every an accident the emergency services would go there first. Thats quite silly.

Maybe they do. Are the declaring these gifts on their tax form?

ScumLord · 08-10-2012 4:36pm

pah wrote: »

Could be an agreement higher up as the fleet does all fuel business with topaz.

That would seem likely, the garda would be a big client and a few free coffees is nothing in the grand scheme of what companies will do to keep customers happy. At least it's going to the general staff and it's not golfing holidays in the Algarve for the management types.

That's if Topaz is covering the cost of the coffee, if a load of garda shop in one particular shop I could see it becoming a big drain on the business giving guards everything for free.

MarkR · 08-10-2012 4:37pm

Taxi drivers get free coffee? I'd understand discounts on volume, but free? They make no money on fuel, coffee and food is where petrol stations make money.

Saying that, it's the store's business really.

SRFC · 08-10-2012 4:37pm

Giving out free products yet garages insist they are not making any money thus increasing petrol prices,personally dont think it makes sense giving them free stuff all builds up over the year.

AnonoBoy · 08-10-2012 4:37pm

Boombastic wrote: »

Just because it's been going on for years doesn't mean it's not a backhander

Yeah everyone knows Topaz is a front for cocaine smuggling but they've been getting away with it for all this time because they give a few cups of sh*tty coffee away every day.

Have you ever filled out a tax return? Do you remember seeing a 'Number of free cups of coffee received' box to put a number in?

Boombastic · 08-10-2012 4:37pm

girl in the striped socks wrote: »

Are you seriously saying a cup of coffee is a backhander?

Yes it is.
Cup of coffee €2.35 (approx)

* 5 days*52 weeks= 600 and if they get a free roll aswell:eek:

BlatentCheek · 08-10-2012 4:38pm

To be fair he's just saying that the Gardai shouldn't accept gifts from members of the public while on duty. Hardly an unreasonable thing to demand. If the business is doing a favour it may be in the expectation of another "favour" in return, which may make the original favour amount to a bribe.
I worked in a pub myself years ago where the manager assured me that they sent a keg down to the Garda station on Good Friday and Christmas; the same pub has been running regular, quiet lock ins that no one complains about for years.
I know a cup of coffee is different from a keg and my mind isn't made up either way on the issue but there is definitely a debate to be had, criticising it isn't merely "garda bashing". If I was a Garda I'd probably be against it as it's the sort of thing that discredits the Garda in the eyes of a lot of ppl.

08-10-2012 4:38pm

Boombastic wrote: »

I hope they are declaring their extra benefits on their tax forms

Comments like that make my head hurt.

Witcher · 08-10-2012 4:39pm

I know several Gardai and they all said they have been offered food etc free of charge and always paid for it to avoid being left open to accusations of being bought etc. but then again they said they know of some Gardai who do accept it, it's an unoffical thing and seems to be down to the officer's own conscience.

yore · 08-10-2012 4:41pm

pah wrote: »

My topaz charges €1 and it even says "Coffee Garda" on the till. I've no problem with it although I wouldn't take a free one.

Could be an agreement higher up as the fleet does all fuel business with topaz. I have been offered freebies before, chipper etc but rarely accept. On one occasion I was basically told "you can have it for free or you can't have it at all!!" no point arguing with that.

Exactly. Although I suspect that you didn't intend to make this point but this is the reason why it should not be done.

Someone in the Guards makes the decision to give the substantial fuel-buying business of the Gardai to the company and in return the Guards get free stuff.

I'm sure people see the problem with this? Say some other company offers to supply all fuel to the Guards, at the taxpayer expense, of 1.50 a litre whereas Topaz offers it for 1.75 a litre...but they will give free fuel/snacks to any member of the Gardai.

If the contract is worth such a lot of money to Topaz that they can afford to give away such freebies then it is obvious that they make a lot profit from the deal. I think that instead, a less profitable deal for them, and more a more economical one for the taxpayer, should be struck

girl in the striped socks · 08-10-2012 4:42pm

Boombastic wrote: »

girl in the striped socks wrote: »

Are you seriously saying a cup of coffee is a backhander?

Yes it is.
Cup of coffee €2.35 (approx)

* 5 days*52 weeks= 600 and if they get a free roll aswell:eek:

Maybe they dont drink coffee daily.
Maybe they take they're allocated holidays every year so they don't work 52 weeks.
Maybe they don't get a free roll.
And maybe, just maybe, it's none of your business.

Seriously, it's amazing how bitter & begrudging people can be towards certain jobs.

Let me ask you this. If you were in a petrol station now & saw the exact same thing happen in front of you, would you speak up or keep quiet?

Boombastic · 08-10-2012 4:43pm

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Yeah everyone knows Topaz is a front for cocaine smuggling but they've been getting away with it for all this time because they give a few cups of sh*tty coffee away every day.

Have you ever filled out a tax return? Do you remember seeing a 'Number of free cups of coffee received' box to put a number in?

Maybe not cocaine smuggling and not specifically about topaz, but if this is the perks they take in public, who knows what they're willing to accept in private? It's unprofessional, where do you draw the line?

seven_eleven · 08-10-2012 4:45pm

Its a sad day for AH when we have to discuss and be bitter about a Garda getting a free coffee.

Who fills up in Topaz anyway? Their prices are ridiculous.

08-10-2012 4:46pm

Boombastic wrote: »

Maybe not cocaine smuggling and not specifically about topaz, but if this is the perks they take in public, who knows what they're willing to accept in private? It's unprofessional, where do you draw the line?

Everyone's job has certain perks, get over it. You're talking nonsense.

SCOOP 64 · 08-10-2012 4:47pm

i think its standard in all topaz to give free coffee to guards, coffee only, i used toget free coffee at one topaz filling up my truck(topaz card). sometimes i would buy a sandswich and on receipt were coffee should have been it said , guard €0.00.

_feedback_ · 08-10-2012 4:49pm

Boombastic wrote: »

Yes it is.
Cup of coffee €2.35 (approx)

* 5 days*52 weeks= 600 and if they get a free roll aswell:eek:

The cost price would be a lot lower than that I would imagine.

The Garda contract would be massively valuable to Topaz.

It's just business, nothing more really...

Boombastic · 08-10-2012 4:49pm

Aranza Glamorous Punk wrote: »

Everyone's job has certain perks, get over it. You're talking nonsense.

Why am I talking nonsense - it's unprofessional

ScumLord · 08-10-2012 4:50pm

yore wrote: »

If the contract is worth such a lot of money to Topaz that they can afford to give away such freebies then it is obvious that they make a lot profit from the deal. I think that instead, a less profitable deal for them, and more a more economical one for the taxpayer, should be struck

How much do you think the coffee costs topaz? It's probably below 50c, I wouldn't be surprised if it was close to 10c.

AnonoBoy · 08-10-2012 4:51pm

elviscostello wrote: »

The cost price would be a lot lower than that I would imagine.

Vastly lower than that. The mark up on coffee is huge.

mathepac · 08-10-2012 4:51pm

Free coffee, free snacks, free entry to night-clubs & cinemas, free drink in pubs, etc. The badge-flashers really go to town on it when in civvies and off-duty, "Security check bud, Gardai on duty, righ'?" I've watched it go on for years.

A minimum-pay food server in a restaurant or hotel has her tax allowances cut because the Revenue "know" she gets tips. How come they don't "know" about the stuff Guards get for free and tax them on it? Is it because they are "brother" public servants and of course one hand washes the other in PS jobs.

It is wide-spread and is corruption at a low level. If there is corruption at the recruit level in the Guards, what does it say about the higher levels? Does it imply that corruption there is for more than cups of coffee? Or does it mean that someone who comes into a corrupt police force gets progressively uncorrupt as they get promoted?

Clearly this activity interferes with the administration of justice without fear or favour or whatever they take an oath to do when appointed to the Guards, but apparently no-one in authority cares once they have their Garda drivers and escorts in place to clear the way and conduct them to their freebies.

yore · 08-10-2012 4:51pm

seven_eleven wrote: »

Its a sad day for AH when we have to discuss and be bitter about a Garda getting a free coffee.

Who fills up in Topaz anyway? Their prices are ridiculous.

My point exactly.....for some reason the powers that be in the Gardai have awarded the contract to fill up the cars of their fleet to this expensive company. If there are cheaper options for petrol/diesel then one would have to wonder why, oh why, would the Gardai land the taxpayer with a higher than necessary bill......... :cool:

cursai · 08-10-2012 4:52pm

Workers on Tesco or clothes shops get discounts. Its disgraceful....

08-10-2012 4:52pm

Boombastic wrote: »

Why am I talking nonsense - it's unprofessional

Why is it unprofessional, do you turn down the perks of your job?

How is it any different to the free tea and coffee that's provided for me in my work place? A guards work place is everywhere.

marketty · 08-10-2012 4:52pm

Had a plumber in my house the other day and made him a cup of tea while he was working, 'better put that on your tax form' I told him

_feedback_ · 08-10-2012 4:53pm

yore wrote: »

My point exactly.....for some reason the powers that be in the Gardai have awarded the contract to fill up the cars of their fleet to this expensive company. If there are cheaper options for petrol/diesel then one would have to wonder why, oh why, would the Gardai land the taxpayer with a higher than necessary bill......... :cool:

Maybe because they have a branch just about everywhere...

And they do a good coffee.

corktina · 08-10-2012 4:54pm

just cos they are Gards they can't get freebies? We all get perks in some way in our jobs, they get far more ****e than most of us, I'd make 'em a coffee if they pulled in at my house (or anyone else)

yore · 08-10-2012 4:54pm

Aranza Glamorous Punk wrote: »

Why is it unprofessional, do you turn down the perks of your job?

How is it any different to the free tea and coffee that's provided for me in my work place? A guards work place is everywhere.

Sounds like the same attitude as "sure I'm a County Councillor. Getting money for giving a developer a rezoning that he might have got anyway was a perk of the job...sure you'd do it yourself boss"

enricoh · 08-10-2012 4:55pm

i met the publican beside me in the local cop shop before crimbo last year, dropping in a box full of jemy, brandy etc. his place has plenty of late nights n never any hassle with cops knocking. good bit of business on his behalf but i think its a slippery slope