Proposals by the Minister for Justice to introduce five new categories of alcohol licence "fly in the face of reason", the Vintners Federation of Ireland has said.
Increasing the number of outlets licenced to sell drink would drive small publicans out of business and exacerbate the problem of alcohol abuse, the federation's chief executive Tadg O'Sullivan told an Oireachtas committee.
Under the reform of the liquor licensing laws, Michael McDowell proposes to introduce a number of specifically tailored licences. Chief among them is the cafe-bar licence. Also proposed are a catering licence, a distance-selling licence, a public cultural event licence and a guest licence for guesthouse-type establishments of five bedrooms or more.
"The central provision of the legislation creates five new forms of licenced premises. This at a time when there is one outlet selling alcohol for every 260 adults in the country ... The proposals to increase licences fly in the face of reason," he said.
The new licences could put publicans, already struggling to make a living in the aftermath of the smoking ban, out of business, Mr O'Sullivan added.
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