Smoke and mirrors

Publicans are at it again

Publicans are at it again. Having failed to prevent the Coalition Government from introducing anti-smoking legislation to protect the health of workers, members are now claiming the ban was partially responsible for Fianna Fáil's poor performance in the local elections.

The other cause they identify for voter hostility is the law that requires parents to remove their children from licensed premises at 9 p.m. The common feature in both cases is that the profitability of the drinks trade has been affected.

It is hardly surprising that vintners, one of the most effective lobby groups in the State, should take this opportunity to criticise Government Ministers and make common cause with those councillors who lost their seats.

But their complaints are no more convincing than those of Fianna Fáil TDs who ascribed the party's drubbing in the elections to the negative aura generated by the Progressive Democrats in government. The fact of the matter is that the ban on smoking in the workplace has been broadly welcomed by the public and has a compliance rate in excess of 90 per cent.

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The chairman of North West Tourism, Mr Sean McEniff, who also happens to be a hotelier and a prominent member of Fianna Fáil, arranged for a survey of drink sales to be held in the area by the tourism organisation. The survey of publicans, hoteliers and suppliers showed a fall in consumption of between 10 and 15 per cent. This was seized upon by Mr McEniff as a reason for the Government to change the law or, failing that, for vintners to launch a constitutional challenge through the courts.

Alcohol consumption has been on the decline in this State since late last year. And the increase of 15 cent in the price of a pint earlier this month may have as much to do with the fall in sales than the smoking ban. Whatever the cause for the reduction, however, it is surely something the Government and the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, should welcome and encourage.

Ireland has a very serious drink problem and it now tops the European Union league in terms of alcohol consumption. Some weeks ago the North West Forum on Alcohol heard how more than 90 per cent of public order offences there were drink-related; how 25 per cent of those admitted to accident and emergency clinics were partially or wholly intoxicated and how psychiatric units in the region were struggling to cope. The situation is no different elsewhere. The choice lies between better public health and publicans' profits. The Government must not waver.