PUBLICANS WARNED AGAINST DRUG DEALING

Publicans who allow drugs to be dealt on their premises should be expelled
from the Vintners' Federation of Ireland, Mr. John Mansworth, the
newly-elected president of the organisation has said.

Speaking in Tralee yesterday on the final day of the VFI's annual
conference, Mr. Mansworth said no publican could condone anybody taking part
in drugs activity on his or her premises, either directly or indirectly.

However, as in many other walks of life, there were "rogue publicans", but
the VFI was not the place for them and they would not be tolerated in the
organisation, which represents 6,000 publicans outside Dublin.

Mr. Mansworth said many publicans had attended seminars on drug abuse and
were in close contact with the Garda authorities on the question. But in a
busy public house it was not always possible to detect drug- dealing.

"If a drug-dealer is standing on a street corner selling drugs then he is
immediately recognisable. But when he comes into a busy pub, possibly one
with several hundred people mingling together, it is very hard to root him
out. Of their nature, pubs can be very busy places and a publican has many
matters to contend with," he said.

He said it was up to every member of the federation to be vigilant insofar
as they could and to acquaint themselves with the necessary information
concerning drugs and drug-dealing.