Publicans have become an easy target to blame during the current high-profile debate on alcohol abuse and misuse problems in Irish society, according to the PRO of the Donegal branch of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland.
Mr Martin Gibbons, speaking at the conclusion of the VFI's annual conference in Letterkenny, said many publicans, particularly in rural areas, are getting increasingly concerned about the adverse image the trade is getting.
"What people tend to forget is that most pubs are family run. We want to work with the Government on tackling issues but we want them to work with us also. Many publicans feel that we are getting a bad press. If anything goes wrong, it seems a case of blame the publican," he said.
Regarding under-age drinking, Mr Gibbons said, "We are doing everything by the book. We want to see a mandatory ID card, but the back-up must be there." He said there is a problem with forgeries, yet publicans can still be prosecuted even if they have unwittingly served someone under 18 who had a forged Garda Age Card.
"It is an offence to alter or forge a passport or driving licence but not a Garda Age Card. Our hands are tied. We want a change in the law."
Although the VFI acknowledges the steep rise in public order offences in the last couple of years, many members point out that the vast majority of incidents are not connected with your typical rural pub. "If you look at the figures regarding public order problems, they are usually connected with incidents at two or three o'clock in the morning. It's the places with late licences that have most of the problems," one rural Donegal publican contended.
He also expressed concern at proposals to allow cafes and coffee shops to sell alcohol. "Pubs are a focal point in many areas, and if the market is freed up and people can simple open up here and there and sell alcohol, it will inevitably lead to less business in pubs," he said.
Meanwhile, the chief executive of the VFI, Mr Tadg O'Sullivan, claimed the crippling cost of insurance "is forcing some publicans to operate without insurance" and is "one of the greatest impediments to the development of business in Ireland".