Stop whinging and start innovating

I agree with the post below. It infuriates me that the pub trade seems insistent on relying on alcohol as its main focus in terms of business development. It infuriates me even more that the publicans who do little or nothing to cater for those who choose not to drink alcohol are the very ones complaining about the effect lower drink driving limits will have on their business.

Why is the current pub so reliant an alcohol solely for revenue? Because Pubs have created the culture. I don’t think its too idealistic to suggest that pubs can remain the social hub by focusing on coffees, teas, juices, virgin cocktails and god forbid, non-alcoholic beers in addition to their alcoholic offerings. Surely it makes sense to increase the market potential of your product? I am currently in the US where it is common for bars to stock 30-50 types of beers and 4-5 different non-alcoholic beers. I have had difficulty in some of the most well known pubs in Dublin to get a non-alcoholic beer.  Typically the process would involve the bartender rummaging around the back of the farthest off fridge before returning with an embarrassed smile or possibly becks non-alcoholic as the only option.

Publicans, its your business. Start to change the culture in your own establishment and help remove the stigma associated with non drinkers. If we are to believe the reports that trade is down, then surely, any suggested remedy is worth trying. It works in other markets, so who’s to say it won’t work here. Try proving me wrong. I dare you…

 

Another clever drink-driving message

Any method of communication that conveys the message of the perils and effects of drink driving gets my vote. Here’s another such message well positioned in mens toilets.

 

Why are there drunken women on the bathroom floor?

This is a campaign for ArriveAlive , an organization created by a father whose son was killed while driving drunk.

This clever group adhere images of drunken women to the floor and walls of high traffic areas and bathroom stalls.

You’ll find more about this hard hitting, high impact campaign from our friends at Stuff4Restaurants.com

 

How to discourage your customers from drinking and driving

Here’s a great subtle yet effective message to remind your customers about the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving. This idea was the brainchild of Saatchi & Saatchi in Sydney.

(Click image to enlarge)

 

 

A single drink soon to be outlawed when driving

New legislation is to be introduced reducing the blood alcohol limit from 80mg to 50mg in the new year. According to this report in the Irish Examiner, this will effectively outlaw the consumption of a single drink when driving. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

 

From Glastonbury to Finland(ia)

Glastonbury wasn’t the only venue celebrating the Summer Solstice. Renards nightclub in Dublin didn’t let the occasion pass without colourful comment in the form of a Finlandia Midnight Sun party recently.

Conditions here were a hell of a lot more comfortable than those at Glastonbury – we were indoors for a start – and there was little mud but much merriment with a full house of specially-invited guests sampling a range of Finlandia cocktails throughout the evening.
In keeping with last year’s Finlandia celebration, something had to change on the hour every hour and this year it was the range of Finlandia cocktails on offer as opposed to the lighting.
But above and beyond all this, it shouldn’t really come as a surprise in this day and age to be asked for a non-alcoholic cocktail at such an event.
Yet initial requests by yours-truly for a non-alcoholic cocktail were met with blank stares from the bar until champion cocktail barman Paul Heffernan heard of my plight and quickly took over, mixing up a tasty delight for this driver.

Current Finlandia Vodka Cup Champion Paul Lambert was there as was Darren Geraghty of Kudos Bar, Clarion Hotel, Liffey Valley and others in the licensed trade such as Geoff Morrissey and Marc McLoughlin from the In Bar in Dalkey and Johnnie Karagiannis from the Morrison Hotel as well as Morzena Twavdziszewski from Sweeney’s Off-licence in Glasnevin, Dublin and Pietro Stoccoro, Bar Manager at the G Hotel in Galway.
Renards itself was nearly unrecognisable, caped as it was in a blanket of Finlandian synthetic snow and ice. Not only that, but the cocktails went down a treat.
Made from barley, Finlandia Vodka pre-dates Absolut (which actually followed on the success of Finlandia) but considering the nature of the product and where it comes from – The Land of the Midnight Sun and all that – shouldn’t Finlandia consider repeating the experience during the Winter solstice?
What better winter warmer could one wish for? At least we’d be in seasonal mood, I thought, as we reluctantly made our exit through the assorted white robed fire breathers, jugglers and nymphs back onto Setanta Place and the warm summer downpour that had gone on all day…..

 

Solving the Drink Driving Problem for Publicans

The recent media swarm and consumer backlash around the publican/drink driving issue has created a situation where public opinion strongly opposes any comment made by rural publicans in respect of assistance for their business. Indeed, we are becoming almost immune to sound bytes from the Vintners Federation et al.

In our haste to pronounce that “The Publican has had it good for long enough…..” and such similar comments, we are failing to recognise the two real issues:

1. No Publican wants to be responsible for, associated with, known for causing or accomplice to death on the roads. On a purely economic level, the publican does not need to lose an already dwindling rural customer base but in such a community where everyone knows everyone, such a death would affect the entire community.

2. Random Breath testing and Drink Driving Laws are a hurdle, not a brick wall. Everyone in society, whether willing to admit it publicly or otherwise, agrees that a family with all siblings around the table for dinner instead of in a mortuary is favourable and that random breath testing and drink driving laws are actually contributing to maintaining the status quo of many families.

Yes, laws have changed, enforcement has increased and mindsets are shifting, however, economic factors and legislative changes have impacted business since time immemorial. Publicans themselves have contended with and adapted to business changes such as the smoking ban and every business sector has had it’s own cross to bear at some point in it’s history. Cigarette Manufacturers have lost (rightly so, many will agree) the right to advertise or be associated with certain sporting events. The smoking ban also had a large impact on cigarette machine suppliers in Ireland.