Mr. Donall O'Keeffe:

I have two points to add. From our experience of running pubs and in terms of the broader picture, we do not see any link whatsoever between alcohol abuse and the sponsorship of festivals or sports events by the drinks industry. There is no direct correlation based on our selling of alcohol every day of the week. We do not believe the proposal would have any impact whatsoever on dealing with the issue of alcohol abuse. We have continually called for three steps in this regard: the rapid introduction of a minimum price, set at an appropriately high level; a regulatory environment in supermarkets, to be addressed by the introduction of structural separation, and a statutory code for merchandising; and the banning of price-based advertising. If the alcohol price cannot be used to drive footfall, it diminishes the commercial attractiveness of alcohol to the multiple retail sector. This feeds into the first part of the first question. We argue strongly that the pub is the most controlled environment in which to consume alcohol. It is sociable and managed and staffed correctly and customers interact with one another. Every publican has a duty under the law to operate in an orderly environment. By and large, publicans achieve this. If not, the Garda has the power to deal with them, as is right and proper. However, we must point to the fact that 55% of all alcohol sold in Ireland is sold through the off-licence sector. Some 70% of this is sold through price promotions, which is the core of the alcohol abuse problem.