Madam, - The Galway pub owner who flouted the smoking ban said he did so in reaction to its adverse effect on his trade. If vintners are so concerned about declining sales, why do they not respond so quickly to a more likely cause, the high price of their drinks, and lower their prices? In any other business, if trade declines, prices are lowered to attract extra custom.
The publicans' tendency to take the easy option and blame an external scapegoat, rather than their own internal cartel of rip-off prices, points to the hypocrisy of their position. - Yours, etc.,
LIAM WEEKS, Connaught Street, Phibsboro, Dublin 7.