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New drink driving laws could close half of Ireland’s pubs

Greater public safety means less indulgence

ANTOINETTE KELLY,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Saturday, October 29, 2011, 7:23 AM

Updated Saturday, October 29, 2011, 7:32 AM

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A new drinking and driving law could lead to the closure of up to half the pubs in Ireland.

Irish publicans have reacted with scorn to new drink and driving legislation that reduced the blood alcohol limit to 50mg per 100mls of blood.

The new law has come into force this week, and it's already being called a deadly blow to the pubs of rural Ireland. In fact, some publicans warn, the new restrictions could lead to the closure of up to half the pubs in the country.

Kerry County Council member and publican Bobby O’Connell told the Irish Examiner that vintners are convinced that up to 50 percent of all Irish pubs will be forced to shut down within the next five years.  

"Rural pubs are being decimated," said O'Connell. "The recession and the off-licence trade have done irreparable damage to the pub trade and now we have this."  

O’Connell said that people living in rural areas, in particular the elderly, will be forced to live in total isolation now for fear of socializing at the local pub and falling foul of the new law.

  "It’s very sad. How many crashes in rural areas are related to drink? Most accidents happen on national primary routes where speeds are very high.

"The fella sipping two or three pints in rural areas are driving home at normal speeds and they don’t bother anybody."

  But Irish police have warned that the new laws will be vigorously enforced.

  "The easiest way to avoid detection is not to drink and drive," Sergeant Kieran O’Connell of the Tralee Traffic Corps told the Examiner.

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merefalow | Nov 03, 2011, 02:52 PM EDT

MORE LAWS MORE INTERFERANCE,MORE REVENUE FOR A BUNCH OF NON PRODUCTIVE JOBS WORTHS,BESIDES WHICH,I HATE HAVING A CRASH WHEN I,M SOBER,,KEEP ON SCREWING THE PUB TRADE,YOUVE NEARLY FINISHED IT FOR GOOD..

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peterson | Oct 30, 2011, 07:11 PM EDT

Responsible drinking is the right way to go. If not, pay the price for your actions !!

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Ernesider | Oct 30, 2011, 02:07 PM EDT

Two men, legends indeed, Mr. Patrick Kavanagh and Mr. Brendan Behan, were always at their best blathering away in the pub. But it was mostly a Dublin pub and neither of them knew how to drive a car. What is destroying the pub for the most part is the, and it started a grand while ago ... t.v., disco/music of a non traditional variety, and marriage collapses.

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butlerreport | Oct 30, 2011, 11:55 AM EDT

So what?

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cynicus | Oct 30, 2011, 10:54 AM EDT

Well, well, well! The publicans and their government sidekicks are at it again! No matter who many die or are maimed by morons driving while drunk, it seems that their only concern is their greasy tills. Who gives a s**t whether they lose money? They have destroyed their own business by overcharging, bad service and poor facilities. Even in Killarney's main street, there is a smell of p**s to greet customers - from abominable toilets. I won't name the premises - you can smell it for yourself! I urge the government to reduce the limits to zero, and quit pandering to these selfish publicans - treat them like the biblical publicans and tax-gatherers - for that is what they are! (Maybe that;s the problem, as the government takes the lion's share of the price of a pint!). I like a drink but I would give it up altogether if I had to put up with the local publican and his greediness. My driving licence is my second most valuable material possession, after my home, and I intend to keep it. Too much depends on it to risk it - just to keep the pubs open!

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cuddlybuddly | Oct 30, 2011, 05:51 AM EDT

In my opinion it is unacceptable to expect rural Ireland to adhere to this ridiculous law. Where are people supposed to go to socialise and have some company and conversation? I say leave the Rural Farmer go to his pub as usual, have a few pints as usual and God Bless....this will lead to lonliness and suicide so if you don't die on the roads, you will die at home of alienation

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sirpeter | Oct 29, 2011, 08:48 PM EDT

It's the rural pubs that will be effected.Pubs with a very small but regular clientele.These pubs are supported by elderly men.They drive down for a few pints every night when they are ready.These are farmers they can't set a time.The catchment area could be over 4 miles in all directions.Lots of these pubs would have less then 10 people in them at night during the week.I know for a fact shuttle vans wouldn't work.How can it pay a publican to collect an old man who is only going to drink 3 or 4 pints at most anyway.Alot of these rural pubs barely make a living.But they are very important for the well being of elderly single men.They won't pay €15 for a taxi either.That means their few pints could cost them €25 a night.

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tdker | Oct 29, 2011, 01:51 PM EDT

I agree with beaumax99. Why don't the pubs provide a shuttle van that collects and returns customers at appointed hours? i know some pubs in Ireland that already provide such service.

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JohnKinMD | Oct 29, 2011, 11:27 AM EDT

In the USA, 23% of all accidents are drink related, that means you are safer with driving with a drinker.

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Rebelforce | Oct 29, 2011, 11:24 AM EDT

If there's one thing Ireland and the Irish could use it's LESS ALCOHOL saturating the culture.

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errigal | Oct 29, 2011, 10:32 AM EDT

HOW ABOUT A DUBBLE BUBBLE DECKER BUS HOP ON HOP OFF TOUR. GET THE HORSE AND BUGGY OUT AGAIN LIKE BIG JOHN WAYNE AND BARRY FITZGERALD. PUB AND GROUB SHUTTLES. ( I AGREE WITH BEAUMAX99.) HAVE FUN AT THE CROSSROADS. SHUFFLE OFF ON A SHUTTLE. COME ON FELLOW IRISH MEN AND WOMEN YOU CAN DO IT. MAY THE LUCK OF THE IRISH BE WITH YOU. I AM WOMAN HEAR ME ROAR. I AM IRISH AND LIVED IN A PUB UNTILL I WAS THREE. NOW I AM 76 DONT LET THEM TAKE THE BEST MEETING HOUSE ON THE PLANET AWAY. THE RULES OF THE ROADS CAN BE WORKED ON TO CONTROL THE TRAFFIC.

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seagreen | Oct 29, 2011, 10:22 AM EDT

Its all about making money, Ireland's politicians have learned from the US and Canada how to supplement the tax base...

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beaumax99 | Oct 29, 2011, 09:48 AM EDT

Maybe a group of people can all chip in and cab it home. Or, perhaps the owner's of the bar's can hire someone to drive people home. Organization is a key factor. THIS CAN ALSO LEAD TO MAKING NEW FRIENDS AND OFFER ANOTHER PERSON AN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY. (SHUTTLE BUS PERHAPS) If you want to drink, and the pub owner's want business, IS THERE REALLY A CHOICE??? I HOPE SOMETHING IS DONE BY THE TIME MY NEXT VISIT COMES AROUND.

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ciarrai | Oct 29, 2011, 09:29 AM EDT

Right. So what do we do when we go to Ireland and we have that dangerous second pint? Jeez, they may be making it a bit tight. Like Kerry County Council member O'Connell said the country pubs are getting killed. We were just there from September 29 until October 14 and there is no one in these pubs. Case in point: in Cahirciveen on October 9th, we went into the Fertha Bar and we were the only ones in the place after 12 noon Mass. Is this the direction that things will go? The lower blood/alcohol will only make things slower. I'm not calling for the 10 or 20 pints of Guinness days to live on, but don't bring it down too low, either.

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