Good for you, Tescos
Posted on | March 15, 2007 | 53 Comments
So the supermarket chain decides to do a promotion – buy 12 cans of beer and you get another 12 cans free. Sounds fair enough.
You can do these promotions with anything. Dog food, sometimes I get a buy one, get one free offer for the food for Bastardface. Orange juice, buy two cartons and get one free. Shampoos, razor blades, chicken fillets, bananas, tins of soup, bottles of wine and pretty much any fucking thing has been on special offer in the country’s supermarkets in the last month.
However, it seems beer is different. Why is that I wonder? Well, look at this quote:
Promotions such as this serve only to bring the industry and the products into disrepute.
Who could possibly have such a conscientious objection? Alcoholics Anonymous? Mothers against Booze? Other supermarket chains? My arse. It’s our old friends the vintners.
Yes, the same people who constantly put up the price of a pint for no good reason whatsoever other than to line their own pockets. The same people who actually wanted the government to subsidise publicans in rural areas after a clamp down on drink driving meant their customers were afraid to drive home drunk.
These cunts have the temerity to say supermarket promotions ‘bring the industry and products into disrepute’ when they have done more than anyone to ensure the drinking culture in Ireland remains third world. When McDowell spoke about introducting ‘cafe bar’ licences which meant alcoholic beverages could be sold outside of pubs the vintners lobbied their TD mates and ensured the changes to the legislation never came into place.
So, while they want everything done on their terms and to protect their members, they don’t really give a fuck about the industry or the products. They want to make sure their cosy cartel keeps as much power as possible. They must hate the off-licences now. Really hate them.
I mean, how can they possibly justify charging €4 for a bottle of beer when I can get 10 of those bottles in the off-licence for €10?
Stupid cunts. Well done, Tesco. Tell them to stick their objections up their fucking holes and keep selling the cheap beer.
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53 Responses to “Good for you, Tescos”
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March 15th, 2007 @ 9:45 am
Economics is always a great weapon for hitting swine like the Vinters. They can’t do jack shit about it.
Then again, the pressure put on offy’s this paddies day smells of the Vinters trying to keep people in the pub and off the street.
March 15th, 2007 @ 9:46 am
BTW, how much is a pint of Guinness in town, these days
March 15th, 2007 @ 9:51 am
Depends where you go. Anywhere between €4 and €5.50
March 15th, 2007 @ 9:52 am
I say that only going to places that are closer to €4 and as I rarely just buy one pint and never look at the receipt I’ll stand to be corrected.
March 15th, 2007 @ 9:55 am
20 – are you supportive of all big hyper rich high street changing land grabbing supermarkets – or – is it just Tescos?
March 15th, 2007 @ 9:56 am
I’m supportive of their promotion because it pisses off the Vintners who are cunts. I’d be equally supportive of Super Valu or Dunnes or Superquinn if they did the same but in general I’m fairly indifferent to the whole supermarket scene, Sid.
March 15th, 2007 @ 10:01 am
In off-licences and in bars, it should be illegal to sell beer in singles. When was the last time anyone you know worth talking to went to a bar and had one? And unless you’re a alcoholic AND a complete knob, you’re not drinking alone; you’ll do the right thing and get a round in.
Having said that, I’m drinking alone right now, but that’s because I’m working late and there’s free Coopers where I work (which is why I work late).
March 15th, 2007 @ 10:12 am
Certainly a case for popping a few Millers and an ice block in the lining of your trench coat. When it comes to your round in Cafe En Seinne or Ron Blacks, gratutiously slip them out. There will be no complaints when you also produce a jumbo packet of dry roast nuts and a party packet of Tayto. Fuck the publicans….
March 15th, 2007 @ 10:15 am
Now Really Twenty the Vitners are just trying to make sure we all Drink responsibly? I mean you never see anyone getting blind drunk in a bar , lounge or public house. And dont you recall how the Barmen in these establishments refuse you after you have already had three drinks. I think they should be applauded for their Conscientious objections to this cheap promotion.
March 15th, 2007 @ 10:18 am
By the way I am hosting a party this Saturday for 150 people and dont want to run out of drink do you think the following is enough or do I need more?
96 Red Ksara wine, 60 white ksara wine, 12 Kefraya white for prizes , 6 bottles of Gin, 8 Bottles of Vodka , 6 Bottles of Dewars whisky prizes, 36 Bottles of Jameson ( 8 for Prizes Maybe) 3 Kegs Murphys Stout, 150 bottles of Almaza.
March 15th, 2007 @ 10:18 am
I’m supportive of any promotion that saves me money.I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve walked out of a pub after a few drinks looked in my wallet and seriously felt I’d been mugged.
March 15th, 2007 @ 10:53 am
Littlesapling said “I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve walked out of a pub after a few drinks looked in my wallet and seriously felt I’d been mugged.”
One question: why do you do it so? it’s not as if it’s gonna catch you by surprise. The prices are up on the door as you walk in. Get a life, take responsibility for your own actions, don’t blame the publican. You drink his product, you pay his prices.
March 15th, 2007 @ 11:18 am
No Roryjohn, you don’t. You pay an inflated price determined by cartel of gombeens with friends in high places who by their anti-competitive actions severely limit your choices and keep prices high. Personal responsibility doesn’t enter into it here, nor does Adam Smith for that matter. Don’t start me, I’ll go off on one about Irish pharmacists next.
While I’d have no truck with Tesco’s quest for global grocery domination, I’m with 20 and littlesapling on this one
March 15th, 2007 @ 11:19 am
Thank you.I do take not of the prices and I do make the decision to entertain at home rather than pay high prices for either alcohol or soft drinks in the pub however, sometimes its unavoidable (entertaining clients etc) the constant price rises shock me.Thats all.I have a life.You on the other hand do not since you jump to attack a random stranger who comments on a website.
We’ll leave it there.
March 15th, 2007 @ 11:20 am
Thank you for your intelligence Liam.
March 15th, 2007 @ 12:02 pm
Ladies – beware the ides of march
March 15th, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
There’s more to life than beer, Irish.
March 15th, 2007 @ 12:33 pm
I remember last year on a sunny day to take a ride into the Wicklow mountains. We stopped at a pub and ordered a Bulmers and a Guinness. It really took me by suprise when I received change from a tenner. I just looked at the change in disbelieve. More than three euro’s.
Problem is that the pub was too far away from Dublin for going for a night out.
March 15th, 2007 @ 12:34 pm
I bring a hip flask of whiskey to the boozers sometimes, saves a fortune, plus I get to show off the badge of lenin on my hip flask i picked up in Moscow,,Oh Yeah Fuck you Fred Freegan! beeeeatch!
March 15th, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
Liam said ” Personal responsibility doesn’t enter into it here …”
Of course it does. How often have you been forced into a pub? Don’t talk rubbish.
Littlesapling said “I have a life.You on the other hand do not since you jump to attack a random stranger who comments on a website.”
Ouch, consider myself spanked! Of course it’s ok for you to slag off pub prices and the people (strangers) who charge them.
Even though you know before you go in what you’ll be charged.
Even though before you go in you have a fair idea how much you and your “clients” will consume.
Even though it’s happened so often before that you’ve lost count.
How fucking stupid is that?
March 15th, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
oh oh… National Youth Council of Ireland are now moaning on the radio about it. We’re in trouble now!
March 15th, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
I agree with every thing 20 says, the vinters are cunts. But I think its worth pointing out that pubs aren’t allowed to do what Tescos are doing (or am I mistaken)- sell 2 for 1. If I’m correct I don’t think their allowed do any type of promotions.
Ok, I know most of the greedy bastards wouldn’t anyway, but some might. I know that when I was a student (12 yeard ago) there was no shortage of 2 for 1s on a wednesday night
March 15th, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
National youth council are cunts
March 15th, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
RoryJohn, the point is that the choice is between going to the pub or staying at home. Irish people in General prefer to drink in public and we tent to do most of our drinking in public places for this reason, it’s something to with our need for company were peculiar that way compared to our EU cousins.
Anyway because of the cartel the Vintners have backed up by the Licensing laws the prices in pubs are higher than they need to be to sustain a very profitable business.
The license has become more valuable than the business it is used by in many cases and as such we see the inevitable closing of smaller premises and more larger scale pubs. Like the Taxis before them this needs to change, you will still require a license to sell liquor but it will be available as a new license and not one from the market place.
Then and only then will punters have proper free choice.
March 15th, 2007 @ 1:26 pm
In the town where I’m from (Greystones), one family holds a large number of licenses. Most of them they’re not using, but they’re not willing to sell these “spare” licenses either, so they have a monopoly on the Greystones pub trade. If that isn’t an anti-competitive practice, then I’m a Chinaman.
March 15th, 2007 @ 1:38 pm
MacDara, I don’t disagree with your points. My own point is that someone would complain about a situation when he has a clear choice.
Obviously price is not the only consideration people take into account when drinking. If it were then nobody would drink in pubs. All the atmosphere of a pub, its ambience, its warmth, its staff, its security and general feeling of welcome are all valuable assets to a pub.
And, guess what. None of them are free. That’s right, the publican has to pay for all this “warm feeling”. And it costs a lot. Staff are not cheap (good staff are even dearer). Rates, license, security are all expensive.
When was the last time you sat in a comfy seat in Tescos and had a member of staff come over to you and pour you a drink and take the empty galss away and so on and so on…
Of course it’s a profitable business. Since when is that a crime? But only for some. Why have so many pubs closed their doors in the last few years? Cos in the country it’s not profitable at all. Pubs are closing in the west of Ireland almost daily. For good.
The point, littlesapling and Liam, is that you DO have a choice. Offies have a (growing) place in society and so do the traditional pubs. You choose. You decide. Just quit complaining.
March 15th, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
Thats the point the blog, and a number of us are MAKING…we have a choice and choose to buy beer in Tesco or any offie that sells beer at a reasonable price and the point that twenty was making is that its rich of the vintners to complain when someone (supermarket/off licence) sells beer cheaply.
so are we clear? we choose, we decide and if we want to complain about it we will..its a way to change things dontcha know?.
Don’t consider yourself spanked, consider yourself laughed at.
March 15th, 2007 @ 2:09 pm
Because they were into making money and still are Major. You’re looking at the cost when thet’re looking only and at all times at the profit. You’ll know when you’ve made it Major when you don’t notice the price but just what you want. Paddy Whack
March 15th, 2007 @ 2:11 pm
PS: Paddy Whack
http://paddunn.blogspot.com/
March 15th, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
The way I look at is that the astronomical pub prices in Ireland are the taxes a Irishman has to pay for the privilege of getting out of the house to avoid the wife.
March 15th, 2007 @ 2:42 pm
What if you have to bring your wife to the pub, Lung? If your boss isn’t around there’s something in your hotmail.
March 15th, 2007 @ 3:13 pm
My wife came home once and saw the couple of loaves of bread and thirty sixpacks of Harp I had bought.
“Are we having a party?” she asked.
“No” ses I.
“Why in hell did you buy TWO loafs of bread then?” she retorted.
Feckin’ Publicans would not be able to get away with it lads if ye’ all were not to keep crying about it while buyin’ it – the answer is easy. a Drinkers Union!
March 15th, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
And I never got my invite, MacDara.
March 15th, 2007 @ 3:50 pm
Here, alcohol goes state by state and even city to city, so, in my home state of Montana, I get a good, micro brewed beer for $2-$4. That’s pretty cheep. Here in New York city, I get a cheep ass horrid brand beer for $6. The good shit can go as high as $14 per beer. $14!!! WTF!
I won’t even go into wine and liqour prices
March 15th, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
roryjohn,
you wouldn’t be a publican by any chance?
March 15th, 2007 @ 4:22 pm
Where can I buy this, quick, quick before its all gone.
March 15th, 2007 @ 4:46 pm
Er, Tesco.
March 15th, 2007 @ 5:09 pm
The vitners are right. It’s much better to have drinkers corraled together in pubs where they can be more easily targetted by the riot squads if needed, rather than widely dispersed throughout civilian areas.
March 15th, 2007 @ 5:50 pm
I would like to thank Tescos for their truely altruistic gesture of offering cheap alcohol in order for all and sundry to better celebrate our national day. Could someone let me know where I might find one of their outlets in the greater Dublin area. They sound like a really great bunch of chaps and I’d like to give them some of my money. I’ve been looking for them all day and I’ve nearly had enough now. Are they a small, independent Irish mom and pop outlet?
Also, in the interest of public safety might I suggest that one needn’t drink all 24 cans in a single sitting.
God bless one and all.
March 15th, 2007 @ 8:53 pm
Yesterday’s post (woman meets man who raped her on the train home from court after he received suspended sentence) generated 26 odd comments.
12 cans of free beer generated 38 Comments, and counting.
’nuff said.
March 15th, 2007 @ 9:34 pm
‘Nuff said wha’ tdo ? If you mean people like to write into blogs more about light hearted subjects and have a joke than they do about miserable, wretched stories that remind us about how shite some other peoples lives are ? A good point well made. Thanks for that. Have fun on Paddy’s Day or will you be protesting outside the Dail about anything in particular?
March 15th, 2007 @ 10:04 pm
Roryjohn
“…the atmosphere of a pub, its ambience…all valuable assets to a pub.
..None of them are free. ”
No shit Sherlock? And does that explain why a pint in some city centre pubs costs €5-6, while maybe 300 yards away it can be got for €4? Or why the price gets jacked up another $1 after 11:00? And without displaying such price increase, or the times they occur?
And where’s the “freedom” in the fact that you’re stuck drinking in your locale, unless you “choose” to spend €20-30 on taxis to go where it might be cheaper.
Do us all a favour, quite the purse-lipped prose you’ve obviously learnt in night classes given by Fintan O’Toole, and come clean about whether you have a stake in the industry yourself.
March 15th, 2007 @ 10:39 pm
I once paid a lot of money for two gin and tonics in a pub in Paris, the serving of the drink was almost theatrical by an elderly seasoned waiter, the decor and character of the pub was amzing in my opinion a memorable occassion and worth the money compared with buying in the supermarket down the avenue. This experience does not exist in Ireland. Sky TV and surly staff dont quite equate, yet prices are the same.
March 15th, 2007 @ 11:10 pm
Walter, 24 cans before each Tuesday at 7pm and there’d be a league won now. Playing with gay abandon.
March 16th, 2007 @ 12:40 am
Dogzbollix says “And does that explain why a pint in some city centre pubs costs €5-6, while maybe 300 yards away it can be got for €4?”
So what’s stopping you from walking 300 yards? A publican is entitled to charge what he likes. That’s competition after all. In my local a pint of Arthur’s best is €3.50. Across the road it’s €4. Guess where I spend my money.
He continues “Or why the price gets jacked up another $1 after 11:00? And without displaying such price increase, or the times they occur?”
All main drink prices should be displayed clearly at the entrance to each premises. If the publican doesn’t display these prices he can be taken to task for it. If you notice it, report it.
And on …”And where’s the “freedom” in the fact that you’re stuck drinking in your locale, unless you “choose” to spend €20-30 on taxis to go where it might be cheaper.”
Does somebody tie you to the stool? You’re not stuck anywhere. You have a choice.
“and come clean about whether you have a stake in the industry yourself.”
Yes, I have a finincial interest in the pub trade though I’m not a publican. I see all the costs of running a pub and keep up to date with legal requirements, price changes, trends etc.
Personally, I’d favour the complete de-regulation of the pub trade. I don’t see why any business should be told when to open and close. Anyone willing and able to run a decent and respectable house should be able to get a licence. That’s my opinion.
However, having different rules for different parties is unfair. For example, a publican is prohibited (and possibly rightly so) from having any “Happy Hour” type promotion. But the big supermarkets can do what they like in this regard.
I’d rather see a level playing field where everyone could compete on an equal footing. Until then, don’t blame your local landlord for all your alcoholic ills.
March 16th, 2007 @ 3:59 am
bout time you lot got a bit of sense-get yer grog in the cheap place—– take it home—- put the bbq on—— call yer mates—— tell them to get their arses over to your place—— get the snags on——–get pissed ——–tell lies—– have a good night in——-fuck the publicans and the vinters
March 16th, 2007 @ 5:48 am
In the US, if you have more than two drinks a day, you are medically considered to have an alcohol abuse problem and a doctor must write that in your file. I suspect the insurance companier like that possibly exculpatory clause.
It’ll be like that in Ireland soon. More than two pints and you’re an alcoholic in need of help.
March 16th, 2007 @ 7:12 am
What’s wrong with old fashioned regular abandon Twenty?
March 16th, 2007 @ 8:32 am
I was tailoring the abandon especially for you, Walt.
March 16th, 2007 @ 8:40 am
Happy St Paddy’s Day / weekend to you Major
http://paddunn.blogspot.com/
March 16th, 2007 @ 8:52 am
It’s not beer they’re selling in the Buy12Get12Free offer.
It’s fucking Bud-bollocky-weiser.
False advertising that is.
March 16th, 2007 @ 8:53 am
Guinness too, Rocky.
Have fun yourself, Paddy. You can stop posting your blog address in each comment now!
March 16th, 2007 @ 12:26 pm
After saving yer self 12 yoyos courtesy of the devilspawn of British retailing , you would think that you could afford our 60c administration charge for a poxy phone card (see bus stop blog).
Do not ever grace our shop again with yeh skinny Cork arse – Eddie