The County Cavan Chairman of the Vintners Federation of Ireland, Eamon Denning, outside The Stray Sod Bar and Restaurant this week in Drung.

Government have ‘ruined’ the rural pub - VFI chair

The Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) is set to embark on an extensive information campaign to arm motorists with the facts about driving safely the morning after a night out. The chairman of County Cavan VFI, Eamon Denning, says the 'zero tolerance message' that went out sparked fear among people about consuming any alcohol, but they are slowly returning to  socialising. He says there will have to be a change of culture with people going to the pub earlier and going home earlier.

Supported by Drinkaware, the media campaign seeks to educate people so they can make an informed decision about when it’s safe to drive. A two-minute animated video on Youtube explains the facts about standard drink measures and how understanding that it takes the body one hour to process a standard drink is the key to safe driving.

 The drink driving limit is 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood and remains unchanged since its introduction in 2011. The limit for professional drivers is 20mg.
In October 2018, the penalty for being caught driving over 50mg (but under 80mg) changed to an automatic three-month driving ban for first offenders.
Eamon Denning, who owns 'The Stray Sod' at Drung, a rural pub, is finding that customers who were afraid to come out to the pub after the new laws were introduced, are slowly returning, after being reassured that the drink driving limit is still 50.
He says he is fortunate to have seven-seater car, which he regularly uses to leave his customers home on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. 
"I have made it clear to all my customers that, if they have consumed a level of alcohol to put them over the limit, they will definitely be left home. We are happy to provide that service,” said the popular publican.
 

 


Culture change


Eamon said the late night drinking culture will have to change. “We are now encouraging customers to come to our pub earlier and go home earlier – people used to do that 40 years ago. People can still enjoy themselves a bit later on Saturday night, if they are not driving to work the next morning,” he said.
“The law is there – you can’t be out drinking late on a Sunday night and drive to work on Monday morning early. We can give out all we like – that is the reality and that is the law – abide by the law. That is what we are encouraging and the customers are now starting to come earlier to the Stray Sod Bar here in Drung,” added Eamon.
He's also notoicing a trend of customers coming for food on a Sunday evening and enjoying a few drinks with their meal.
"People going to bingo here on Thursday nights drop off their partners at the Stray Sod and collect them on the way home at around 10.30pm," Eamon said of another emerging tradition in the locality.
The Stray Sod in Drung is a fine example of a typical rural Irish setting with a church, a post office, a shop and a pub/restaurant.
“If people in the rural area can’t come out to this pub and enjoy some social interaction with their friends and neighbours, it will lead to social isolation. We have no trains or buses – there is not even a bus stop outside – Rural Link does not come out here,” explained Eamon.

Still afraid


He said that many of his customers living on their own, who in the past would have come to the pub on the tractor, are still afraid to venture out.
“They used to come here and have a couple of pints – now they come here on Friday morning after getting their pension and have a breakfast – then away they go – that is some change,” said Eamon.

VAT hike 


He's also feeling the impact of the Government decision to restore the 13.5% VAT rate for the hospitality sector - up from the reduced 9% rate. This forced the Stray Sod to put an additional €1 on the cost of a dinner. “We were happy enough with the 9% and it brought a lot of tourism into the country for the last number of years – they have ruined it completely. I don’t know what the Government has against the hospitality sector in this country,” said Eamon. 
He pointed out that he is paying up to €800 to have access to Sky, Eir and BT, and rates are going up, as are electricity prices. 
Eamon further pointed to recent statistics show that claim approximately 25% of rural pubs in Ireland are only turning about €2,000 per week and some only do about €1,500.
While at the Stray Sod I encountered two customers who gave their view, but did not wish to be named.
One man was after collecting his pension in the local post office and came into the Stray Sod for a breakfast. He used to have a drink after the breakfast, but not anymore.
“I’m afraid of having a drink. I live on my own. If I lost my licence, it would be serious."
If he goes to pub at night, he is collected and I would not attempt to drive the next day until dinner time.
The other man just popped in for a drink. He had walked to the pub. While emphasising that he is not in favour of drinking and driving, he suggested that the limit the next morning should be put up to 80 and above.
“Rural Ireland has been totally alienated. The gardaí should be able to use discretion – ask you to walk the white the next morning. If you can perform that exercise, you should be allowed to drive on.”