Off-Sales Clampdown

[gaelach]

If a campaign is mounted to close off unfettered off-sales outlets, I would not expect the same opposition from the Vintners Association. this is not an attack on Public Houses, its an attack on off-licenses in supermarkets, Service Stations and corner shops.

The Vintners would stand to gain from this measure because since the smoking ban they have been losing custom.

Consumers would stand to lose from the consequent price gouging these restrictions on supply would ensure.

Do you think that Recreational Drugs, like alcohol, should not be subject to higher pricing in order to keep them out of the hands of youth?

No!It already costs a feckin fortune....

[hiker]

In light of the Minister for Justices statement today, I thought I'd resurrect this thread.
Few interesting points made on it.

[Ard-Taoiseach]

In light of the Minister for Justices statement today, I thought I'd resurrect this thread.
Few interesting points made on it.

It's some resurrection, the thread was 9 months without a comment till you posted that. Did you have it bookmarked for quick and easy reference in times like these?

[patslatt]

Is it time to ban the sale of alcohol from supermarkets, corner shops and Service stations?

I feel the rise in alcohol abuse is mirrored by the rise in the number of outlets selling it. I feel that Supermarkets and corner shops and Service Stations are not suitable place from which to dispense this quite addictive and harmful drug.

Alcohol Dealers should be not only licensed but trained specifically to deal in this powerful drug.

A whole new set of standards should apply to the training, recruiting and monitering of the staff who work in the Alcohol Dealing area.

Instead of repressive regulation, maybe the answer to excessive drinking is to appeal to Irish pride or social conscience,an approach that seems to have worked reasonably well for prevention of both littering and dangerous driving behaviour. The number of Tidy Towns has increased sharply over the years thanks to local government and business initiatives,while the prolonged TV ad campaign against dangerous driving showing horrific crashes has contributed to holding down the number of car fatalities despite large increases in the number of cars on the road.

The "I've had enough" ads showing young Irish people behaving badly under the influence of drink and drugs should increase young peoples' self awareness about the stupidity of excessive binge drinking. It is one thing to be moderately inebriated and jolly,quite another to be a boring or aggressive drunk.

[jpc]

Theres nothing wrong with selling alcohol in Service Staions. In many small villages in rural Ireland the petrol station is also the 'corner shop' and specialist off licences dont exist everywhere.

You are coming at the problem from the wrong angle. Adults should be allowed buy alcohol from a whole range of outlets. When an outlet is found to have sold alcohol to a minor there should be a minimum fine and the place should be shut down for a full week. That would soon put an end to it.

[color=red]The other major issue is that unlike 20 years ago alcohol now tastes sweet in a whole range of products like alcopops. If it could only be supplied in certain forms such as raw spirits wines and beers it would reduce the quantity consumed.

[/color]

I think you hit the reason Inisowen.The "Market" is amoral. Whatever turns a buck.The youth demographic is currently very large here.Design products products for the yoof market. Easy and sweet in this case.Remove this product segment from offies /supermarkets/petrol stations and watch the reduction in broken glass in parks and gathering areas.

[constitutionus]

this all sounds like an anti competitive rant to me.

if people are drinking under age and people are selling drink to them they should be prosecuted and jailed.

simple as that.

forcing law abiding people to cough up more dough to the publican trade by restricting sales to other outlets is a violation of the market. i cant help thinking ahern's coming leglislation on this subject is more coloured by the loss of money in the vintners trade due to their greed , and the back benchers in his own party that'll benefit from that, than any serious attempt to curb drinking.

[hiker]

In light of the Minister for Justices statement today, I thought I'd resurrect this thread.
Few interesting points made on it.

It's some resurrection, the thread was 9 months without a comment till you posted that. Did you have it bookmarked for quick and easy reference in times like these?

No. It took me feckin' ages to find it.

this all sounds like an anti competitive rant to me.

Hey, I'm a PD and as pro-competition as it get but were not talking about normal product here, are we?
We are talking about the production, distribution, sale, supply and consumption of a pretty hard drug.
Normal market condition cannot and should not apply.

Drugs are sold thru pharmacies is a highly restricted and controlled manner in this country. Why would you think alcohol is any different to, say, Benylin or anti-biotic?

[constitutionus]

so basically your comparing one cartel to another ?

pharmacist have been ripping us off for years!

and its your opinion its a hard drug. to me its no different to disprin, abuse it and you suffer. dont and you wont. this is all about shoring up money for the vintners.

[hiker]

so basically your comparing one cartel to another ?

pharmacist have been ripping us off for years!

That may well be but are people dying from overdosing on pharmacy prescribed drugs?

and its your opinion its a hard drug. to me its no different to disprin, abuse it and you suffer. dont and you wont.

Not just my opinion.

this is all about shoring up money for the vintners.

This has nothing to do with vintners. Its about health both mental and physical. Alcohol abuse contributes massivly to the cost of health care in this country. Alcohol abusers block beds in hospitals, cost billions in lost work days and have a significant contribution to mental health problems.


You, like the vintners, are involved in the playing down of the effects of this drug on society. You've bought the package from the adverts and the lifestyle from your peers.
You know no better.

[kepa]

so basically your comparing one cartel to another ?

pharmacist have been ripping us off for years!

I'd love to see you back up such a sweeping statement, if you can, which I doubt.