Members of the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) may put forward candidates for European and local elections next year to fight what they describe as the growing level of repressive legislation.
The decision was made at a "stormy" meeting yesterday of the VFI's management committee. The VFI president, Mr Joe Browne, said the committee would propose that members be nominated as electoral candidates for next year's elections.
"This decision is not directly related to the proposed ban on smoking in all places of work but is in response to the growing level of repressive legislation evident in Ireland today," he said.
The VFI represents 6,000 country publicans. The Donegal branch of the VFI decided yesterday not to comply with the proposed ban on smoking in pubs in its present form.