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Dozens of pubs around the country have slashed prices on alcohol and are offering special deals on certain nights.
One well-known Dublin nightclub, Krystle, is planning to offer almost all drinks at just €2 on Tuesday for a St Patrick's Eve party. Owner Rangan Aruchevlan said: "We are not pushing it through like a happy hour – we are not encouraging binge drinking. People can drink as they would normally – it is just a lot cheaper.
"People are losing their jobs and we are passing it on to the consumers. We wanted to give something to people, particularly in the current climate."
Another night-club, Dicey Reilly's, which, like Krystle, is situated in the Russell?Court Hotel, all pints are being sold at just €2.50 on one night of the week.
The organisation Meas, which aims to curb excessive drinking, said the government's removal of a ban on below-cost selling of alcohol had caused the surge in drink promotions.
Chief executive Fionnuala Sheehan said: "Three years ago when the government removed the ban on below- cost selling of alcohol… [I] wrote to the then Minister for Enterprise Micheál Martin, protesting against this move and forecasting the very outcome that has now happened – namely the sale of alcohol at low prices.
"The prevalence of promotions in the off-trade has placed pressure on the on-trade and seems to be a factor in encouraging more [of these] promotions. There is no legal impediment to selling alcohol at a low or below-cost price."
Meas said it was particularly concerned at promotions where the price of a particular drink fluctuates according to demand for it.
The system operates on the basis that if no one is buying a particular drink, the price keeps dropping until it reaches €2.50 for a pint or a shot. Clients then flock to the bar to take advantage of the lowest price. The drink promotions are proving incredibly popular and certain bars and clubs have been attracting massive crowds.
Already, a Facebook group and an app for the iPhone have been set up to point people in the direction of the cheapest drinks in Dublin.
One bar in Dublin, the Vaults, is offering two for the price of one on all pints, while a nearby bar, the Harbourmaster, sells all drinks for €3.
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With due respect MEAS is hardly in a position to be called a "Watchdog". The first word in its so called healthy slogans is usually "drink" as in "drink sensibly" or "drink responsibly". Perhaps reasonable advice if we were not dealing with a potent mood-altering drug.
Of course these promotions are irresponsible.
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