Vol. 518 No. 5
63 Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action she will take arising from the recent decision of up to 10,000 publicans to increase the price of alcohol; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11964/00]
Since the 1980s the policy of successive Governments has been to promote greater competition and consumer choice, including through the mechanism of greater price transparency rather than through statutory price control. I do not propose to change that policy.
Last August I made an order entitled the Retail Price (Beverages in Licensed Premises) Display Order, 1999, which requires publicans to display their prices immediately outside or immediately inside their premises. I believe that consumers must be given fair warning of the prices being charged before they enter a pub so that they can take their custom elsewhere if they believe those prices to be unreasonably high. The order is enforced by the director of consumer affairs. I understand from the director that a number of publicans have received final warnings regarding their non-compliance with the order. I should add that the option of prosecutions for non-compliance with the order is there should the director consider it to be warranted.
