Vintners Must Act Responsibly

Date: 21 October 2003

ASH Ireland finds it quite incredible that Vintners now appear to be putting forward a policy of actively breaking the law – in regard to the proposed smoking ban. Surely a responsible national organisation should be encouraging people not to break the law.

The Vintners in many respects are now advocating acting outside the law, which is very irresponsible, especially in the eyes of their young customers. They have failed to convince the Government not to proceed with this health initiative – and now they are going to sulk and become obstructive. This must not be accepted – and we welcome the comments of An Taoiseach on this matter recently.

Vintners are very good at abiding by the law and introducing changes when it suits. Price increases when agreed with Government and sometimes when not agreed can be introduced with great haste.

The Vintners should get on with it – and support this health initiative and stop the present irresponsible and unprecedented behaviour. What if the health lobby were to call for avoidance of pubs until all vintners associations publicly supported Minister on this smoking ban issue? At this time ASH Ireland would not advocate such a course of action – but we may if the Vintners do not quit their obstructionist antics.