The Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) has never lacked self-confidence in lobbying politicians and in promoting the financial interests of its members. It resisted the ban on smoking in the workplace. It opposed changes to drink-driving legislation.
Now that earnings in the industry have fallen from historically high levels, it wants the Government to subsidise the trade.
VFI president Paul Stevenson caused something of a furore when he spoke of the need for a Government compensation package. But he later said this would only apply to those members who were putting local transport initiatives in place. It was a brazen piece of special pleading. It was designed to compensate publicans for lost earnings arising from the introduction of random breath testing. But it wasn't the only demand made by the VFI. The federation also complained because Minister for Finance Brian Cowen had not cut excise duties in the budget.
Ireland has some of the highest excise charges in the European Union. But there is a reason for it. We also consume the greatest amount of alcohol per capita. Our drinking is out of control and terrible damage is being wreaked on families and communities. Binge drinking, drunk driving and underage consumption - and all the horrible things that flow from such abuse - has become endemic and the Government has a duty to respond. The use of alcohol has fallen since 2001, according to the latest EU statistics. But in the previous 12 years it grew by 50 per cent. And we are on course to reap a whirlwind of medical and other social costs.
A lot of people have been inconvenienced in rural Ireland by the introduction of tougher drink-driving laws and random breath testing. But the rising death toll could not be ignored. For motorists who want to drink, there is such a thing as a designated driver. The VFI has sponsored a "good neighbour award", built around the provision of 'lifts' for older people. Everybody has a responsibility not to endanger the lives of others through their actions. But not all accept that duty, as is clear from the fact that 374 people were arrested for drink-driving the week before last.
As a society, we need to moderate our drinking habits. Isolation and loneliness, in their many forms, can sometimes contribute to alcohol abuse. That response is not confined to rural Ireland.
High excise duties were introduced in order to discourage excessive drinking. In that context, it would be perverse of the Government to subsidise the transport of people to points of sale.