Madam, - It was with some anger, but no surprise, that I read of the tactics employed by some vintners to extract as much profit as possible from their customers during the holiday period. This is how they thank the people for their custom during the year: double the prices and charge people to get in!
There is only one way to respond to this change: change your pub and go somewhere you'll be appreciated. These opportunistic parasites don't care about you - they just want to screw you as much as they can.
One of the representatives of this group of people put forward the argument that there is an expense involved in getting late licences and this must be recovered.
What's happening to the additional profit being generated by all the extra drinking being done during this time? Who does he think he's kidding? It's time the people of Ireland voted with their feet.
It must be said, however, that for the most part, these people are not traditional publicans. In my own local, McLynn's of Old Market Street in Sligo, customers have value. I could have had live, high-quality entertainment any night over the holidays at no charge - and the pint costs €3.30. I have no doubt that many people have similar locals.
The publicans of Ireland should throw the leeches out of their organisation. They're all being tarred with the same brush! - Yours, etc.,
PADRAIC CUFFE, Heather View, Sligo.