‘Probably not the worst case ever’

February 2002

Substituting Carlsberg for Harp during the Fleadh Cheoil proved costly for Enniscorthy publicans [NAMES WITHELD] at Enniscorthy District Court last week.

The Director of Consumer Affairs accepted a plea of guilty from the pair to showing false or misleading prices in the pub on August 27, 2000.

State Solictior Kevin O’Doherty accepted that the premises was generally well run but the price display proved less than clear on the day in question.

The price list gave a price for bottled lager, but when the inspector asked for a bottle of Carlsberg, he was charged a different price than the one displayed.

Defending solicitor Niamh Moriarty explained that Harp was the cheapest bottled lager in the pub at the time of the offence, and the correct price for a bottle of Harp was given on the obligatory price list. However, it was becoming more and more the case that different brands are charged at different prices, and the standard price list, with just one space to give a price for ‘bottled lager’, does not allow for this.

Ms Moriarty stressed that her clients were many years in business and had never previously come under the scrutiny of the Consumer Affairs authorities.

Mr O’Doherty instructed Judge Donnchadh O Buachalla that the maximum fine was €500 and added that he had been instructed to also seek costs. Echoing the famous Carlsberg advertising slogans though, he said it was ‘probably not the worst case’ ever to come to court.

The judge suggested that most customers during the Fleadh were probably seeking fast and furious service, rather than counting their change and discussing the merits of various beer brands.

However, he imposed a conviction, with a fine of €130, and ordered the defendants to pay costs of €160.