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I blame draconian DUI laws for killing pubs all over the world. A DUI is regarded about like assault and battery nowadays. The world is just not as much fun as it used to be.
Three cheers. I'm all for the summary execution of DUI's.
You want to kill yourself, put a bullet through your head; but don't use your car to do it and kill me in the process.
I blame draconian DUI laws for killing pubs all over the world. A DUI is regarded about like assault and battery nowadays. The world is just not as much fun as it used to be.
In Europe you can usually walk to a pub .... and stagger home.
Not only that but Dublin has the "Drink Link" (Night Link) bus that runs well into the AM so you can get that home too. Wouldnt blame DUI laws on falling alcohol sales at bars.
I still blame high taxes, not just on the alcohol itself but the Irish Gov taxes the hell out of everything, wastes the money it generates and taxes it some more just to where people cant afford it. I remember getting me pint of Smithwicks for 1.50 and then the prices just started to sky rocket. Throw on top of that high cost of insurance these establisments have and have no choice but to pass it onto the consumer.
It was just easy to drink 8 cans of Guinness at home with the lads before you went clubbing whereas when it was cheaper I never did that.
In Europe you can usually walk to a pub .... and stagger home.
I believe this isn't as true as it used to be. I have read lots of articles about how urban sprawl and housing choices are forcing people to drive everywhere and therefore killing the after-work ritual of going to have a pint (or few). The problem exists in the UK as well as in Ireland.
You can't generalize Europe. For example, most of Scandinavia lacks a pub culture unless you happen to live right in the center.
The scene there is much more about hosting house parties and has been since before the Middle-Ages. It used to be the law that every farm had to brew its own beer. No need to pop down to the pub when you could invite your friends and family over to sample your most recent brew.
That's not the reason. I'd say the silent majority are pretty happy with the smoking ban. Compliance rates are high - keep in mind that Irish people often disregard or circumvent laws that they don't like.
The major reason is the cost associated with socialising in a pub/club. Transport to and from the venue, rip-off drinks prices and other costs are probably greater factors.
Saying the Irish disregard laws they dont like is an extremely broad and wrong statement.
You cant just spark up in a bar because you want, the fine for the publican is very high.
Well, I'm Irish and I have lived in Ireland all my life. There is a culture of flouting laws.
It's more prevalent among the older generations but it definitely exists. I'm not talking about serious or violent crimes. I know people who choose not to get TV licences, I know publicans who decide to have opening time well beyond what is legally allowed, I even know a few old people who don't have driving licences.
Anyone who has lived in rural Ireland for any period of time will have come across a whole host of people who pick and choose the laws they want to abide by.
You are correct that it is an extremely broad statement, and I suppose it is not fair to apply it to the vast majority of Irish people.
FYI I was born and raised in Ireland and lived there for 22 years (up till 8 years ago) and worked the bar scene for a number of years in one capacity or another so I am not just pulling things off the top of me head (not that I am saying youre suggesting that, just saying).
Maybe it is easier to get by the smoking laws in the sticks than it is in Dublin (Im a Dub) I dunno.
The cost of a pint is a HUGE factor in the decline as is the cost of transport and other things. Prices went up in the switch from Pound to Euro, obscene Gov taxes on alcohol, very high cost of wages and supplies and high cost of insurance. All drives the cost of a pint up. So before I left we did most of our drinking at home, went to a club for a few pints then back home to a house party whereas we used to go eat then go party at teh clubs all night.
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