“For the little guy”: in Ireland, debate over 0% draft beers served to children
Parents ordering a non-alcoholic pint for their children: the scene, witnessed in several pubs across the country, has sparked a minor controversy in the Emerald Isle, where principles, morality, and legislation are at the crossroads.
Can minors drink alcohol-free beer in pubs? The somewhat absurd question reached the Irish Parliament in early May. Speaking to his colleagues, MP Alan Kelly spoke out for a waiter in his constituency, who was outraged to see some parents ordering 0% pints for their children.
“He asked me if he had the right to refuse,” explained the Labour MP, in an intervention relayed by RTÉ , the Irish public broadcaster. “This places an unacceptable burden on the shoulders of the workers.” And for good reason, once the beer is served and placed on the table, it is difficult to distinguish an authentic pint of Guinness or Heineken from their alcohol-free version, whose popularity has exploded in the country in recent years (from 0.4% to 2% of the beer market in seven years). “This puts the manager in a difficult position,” who is supposed to ensure that no minors consume alcoholic beverages in his establishment.
And this situation, according to the Irish version of The Sunday Times , is not an isolated one. “There is talk of 10-year-old children being encouraged by their parents to try 0% beers,” reports the London newspaper. Contacted by the journal
Courrier International
