Local festivals in jeopardy due to new legislation on sponsorship

WEXFORD festivals could be in jeopardy after the Public Health Alcohol Bill (PHAB) recently proposed a new law to restrict advertising at events which would effectively mean a ban on sponsorship.

If actioned, the PHAB – introduced by newly elected Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in December 2015 – would place limits on advertising, prohibiting any depiction of alcoholic beverages in settings such as pubs or concerts.

Chairman of The Wexford Singing and Swinging Festival John Gaynor said: ‘The proposals contained in this Bill will, I believe, have hugely damaging unintended consequences for Wexford festivals upon which local tourism and regional economies depend.

‘New advertising provisions are a real threat to the viability of the Wexford Singing and Swinging Festival and I don’t know how we will continue without sponsorship.’

The drinks industry provides €8.5 million in sponsorship to more than 50 arts and cultural events around the country, a boost that is essential to their sustainability.

Festivals like the Singing and Swinging Pubs, Wexford Festival Opera, Fringe Festival and Spiegeltent combine to bring colour and culture to Wexford town.

Brian Byrne from Lantern Events said if the newly proposed law is adopted, it will ‘ have a tangible and negative effect on the ability of Wexford Spiegeltent Festival to obtain sponsorship,’ which in turn will have a detrimental effect on the festival itself.

Brian said: ‘There is a very limited pool of sponsors who support festivals and events, and reducing this will have serious consequences for the tourism industry in Wexford and beyond.’

Since 2012 the Spiegeltent has welcomed over 60,000 people to various music, comedy and theatre shows while in 2016, the festival delivered an economic impact of €4.2 million into the local economy, supporting Wexford jobs and businesses.

Commenting on the recent announcement, Cllr George Lawlor said: ‘As a member with Wexford Marine Watch who has witnessed first hand severe alcohol consumption, it is not local festivals that cause these problems from advertising.

‘It is the abuse of cheap, strong alcohol which I feel needs to be addressed by the Government and parents to their children as well.’