Pubs investigated over drinks prices

July 1978

Fines of up to £100 or six months in jail could be doled out to Wexford publicans who are charging too much for drink.

This week, Wexford publicans are being investigated by an Inspector from the Prices Commission, who will determine if any local hostelries are charging more than the maximum price allowed by law. She will be reporting her findings back to the Commission and legal proceedings will ensue against those found to be overcharging.

A spokesman for the Commission said the Inspector would be checking that publicans have increased prices only by the amount allowed in the most recent increases to be sanctioned.

‘For example, the maximum price of a pint of Guinness is now set at 47p, up from 46p previously, so the Inspector will check nobody is selling it for more than that,’ the spokesman said. He added that people charging mroe than that price will be prosecuted as soon as the courts re-open in September.

Meanwhile, ten local publicans already facing prosecution for overcharging will have their cases dealt with in December. Proceedings had been held up while the Vintners Federation of Ireland went to the High Court to question the constitutionality of the Prices Commission. The court last week found against the vintners, clearing the way for proceedings already under way to resume.