Availability & marketing of alcohol

MugsGame said:
Posting while doing the ironing again are we?

I've already said
That comment was meant for those who do believe that more legislation is required in this area.
 

I think you make a good point. First thing I see when I walk into my local supermarket is stacks and stacks of beer crates on "special offer". Before I even get close to the wine & beer aisle I pass several pyramid-type displays and baskets of wines. Then the aisle itself is right there in the middle of the store (not a separate off license) and even the middle of the aisle is heavily stocked with deals (they don't do this on the other aisles).

As for targetting under-age drinkers, too late - the drinks companies have already done this with their alcopops/bacardi breezers etc. I mean come on - how irresponisble is that?
 

I know, but Im talking about a chain that doesnt sell alcohol at all. This isnt increasing legislation or banning as you or I or anyone would still have the choice to go the the other supermarket chains or off licence chain to purchase wine/spirits/beer. But it would give for example a mother a choice not to bring her children into shops selling alcohol, a person a choice to support such a chain (if they feel really strongly about this matter) anybody the choice to totally avoid it and not just have to stick to one queue or one part of the store.

Its just an idea, it works in other countries.
 
Chamar said:
As for targetting under-age drinkers, too late - the drinks companies have already done this with their alcopops/bacardi breezers etc. I mean come on - how irresponisble is that?

Just because the drinks companies manufacture such products doesn't make them irresponsible. They don't market these products to under-age drinkers.

If there is to be any irresponsibility here, doesn't the irresponsibility lie with the publicans who serve the under-age drinkers the kinds of products mentioned, as well as loads of other kinds/brands of drinks.

If these publicans didn't only consider their bottom line by breaking the law, then no matter how many alcopops that were manufactured, under-age drinkers wouldn't get their hands on them.
 
Why not get together with like minded individuals (e.g. Chamar perhaps?) and lobby the main supermarket chains on the idea of alcohol free stores. Or do your shopping outside of off license hours?
 
ClubMan said:
Why not get together with like minded individuals (e.g. Chamar perhaps?) and lobby the main supermarket chains on the idea of alcohol free stores.

Just to clarify, Im not blaming the supermarkets.

Its just one idea as to how the mind set of the future generations could be changed. I think my second point about giving kids more choices for sports and recreational facilities is more pressing. There are such great things you can do in Ireland such as hiking, horse riding, sailing, camoige, swimming and not enough facilites for children/young adults to avail of.

The alcohol free supermarket chain, I refered to here, uses its profits to subsidize the running of language classes, sports, trips and all kinds of courses at discounted prices that anyone swiss/foreign/young/old could avail of.

ClubMan said:
Or do your shopping outside of off license hours?

Why?

As I said at the top, Im not blaming the supermarkets, this is just 1 idea that Ive seen in motion here that I think would address Charmars original post. There are many other ideas that do not involve legislation and turning into that nanny state we're all so afraid of.
 
If your 15 year old comes home pi**ed it not the fault of the supermarket that sold them the drink or the bus shelter manufacturer where it was consumed, or the TV company. It is your 15 year old's fault and to a lesser extent the fault of the parent who didn't do a good enough job raising their child.
 
casiopea said:
Just to clarify, Im not blaming the supermarkets.
I never said that you were...
Its just one idea as to how the mind set of the future generations could be changed.
And mine was just one suggestion as to how this idea might be executed by those who think it's a good one.
Just another constructive idea for those who don't like the idea of being tempted by the alcohol offers in their local store. Go there while they cannot be sold and you'll be safe.
 
ClubMan said:
Why not get together with like minded individuals (e.g. Chamar perhaps?) and lobby the main supermarket chains on the idea of alcohol free stores. Or do your shopping outside of off license hours?

Oh dear, sorry I spoke now.....
 
casiopea said:
That comment was meant for those who might have thought my stance was to blame supermarkets.
The comment in question seemed to be in response to something that I posted earlier and which you quoted.
 
Chamar said:
Oh dear, sorry I spoke now.....
Why? Feel free to actively engage in the discussion. If you have a problem with something that I or anybody else post then by all means challenge or rebut it. Just posting obscure comments and emoticons hardly contributes much to the discussion or clarifying your views on the matter.
 
Where do we go next? Will we have special supermarkets which do not sell chocolate in case we become obese? What shall we do about crisps?
 
Berlin said:
Where do we go next? Will we have special supermarkets which do not sell chocolate in case we become obese? What shall we do about crisps?

Yes they are called fruit and vegetable markets ;o)

Nobody is banning anything, there would still be the Dunnes and the Tescos and the SuperQuinns with the same amount of choice. This is just more choice.

On another point, I would love to see minerals and non-alcoholic drinks not be so expensive in pubs. When I do choose to go out to a pub to some event and not drink, I spend nearly as on sparkling ballygowan or on diet cokes as I would have done on alcoholic drinks. I know the mineral people need to cover their costs/make a profit, but it would be nice not have a hole in your pocket after drinking fizzy non-alcoholic drinks all night.
 
if you wonder about our attitude to alcohol just cast your mind back to the debate that raged over whether children should be banned from pubs after 9pm or not. The fact that we needed to legislate for this at all was a shock to most of my non-Irish friends.

we have a desperately unhealthy attitude towards alcohol combined with a reluctance to take responsibility for all the problems that it can cause.
just go to france and spend time in a society where the production and consumption of wine is part of the social fabric of the country but they seem to be able to drink without hitting eash other and vomiting as much as we do.

the consumer is ultimately responsible, the drinks companies are, in my opinion, responding to demand that is already there. Illegal drugs are not advertised anywhere but there is still a strong demand for them.
 
JohnBoy said:
the debate that raged over whether children should be banned from pubs after 9pm or not.

I've been quite disturbed recently about the "Dublin Pubs" advertising recently where Dara O'Brian (sp?) is encouraging families to come into pubs, sponsored by whatever the organisation of Dublin pubs is called.

I think this is a very sinister form of advertising as the last place parents should be taking their kids is into a pub surrounding.

And yes, I have complained to the ASAI.
 
Personally I don't see what's sinister about it. The advertisement extolls the virtues of dining out in pubs. Surely any attempt at a transition from purely drinking to "café bar style establishments is to be welcomed? Not saying that children should be in pubs all the time or at every available opportunity but I don't agree that they should never be brought either. It could be argued that totally shielding them from these places is not necessarily conducive to the development of a balanced and healthy attitude to alcohol?
 
The way the sellers of alcohol will tell you is that the advertising is only designed to get people to switch brand of drink rather than get them to start drinking in the first place. Same principle of cigarette advertising.