Random thoughts....
My only gripe with the jazz festival and indeed with drinks sponsored festivals in general, is the refusal of bar staff to serve non-alcoholic beers. I understand that if it's a Guinness sponsored festival we shouldn't walk up to the bar and ask for a Murphys - that's fine. However, if like me, you're driving a lot and want to order a non-alcoholic beer, you should be able to... if Guinness don't want to provide a non-alcoholic beer from its brewery, then they should step aside and allow us to choose a so-called rival's non-alcoholic brand... otherwise what are they doing - encouraging me to drink and drive? Forcing me to drink and drive? Well, while they'll never succeed to that end, endless Coca-Colas and mineral waters don't really float my boat. Shame on the breweries for their selfishness, I say! And it's not just Guinness either... the same thing has happened to me at a Budweiser sponsored festival. Very bad form....
Speaking of drink, I've been stopped in my car at Garda checkpoints a whopping three times in the past week and a half... plus another time as well about five weeks ago. I've never actually been bagged though.... I think they can tell that I have an innocent (and sober!) face. The gardai this week issued drink driving arrest figures, which they maintain are way up on the same period last year. However, I don't know how they can pass this off as an accurate comparison as there is no way that they were as vigilant themselves in catching drink-drivers this time last year. In fact I don't think I've ever been stopped at such a checkpoint before in my whole life! They are definitely pursuing a major crackdown at the moment... so of course the figures will be higher. It's amazing though how many people are still taking the chance... silly billys... it's not like the message isn't loud and clear!
Was at a great party in SoHo during the week... it was the official opening of the bar (even though it's been open for quite a while at this stage) and also the launch of new Cork social magazine RSVP. With three floors open, it was great to just wander around and take in the atmosphere... a saxophonist played around one corner, a girl sat crooning at a piano on another level, while the lads from the Roaring 40s entertained on the ground floor. Finger food did the rounds as well as an abundance of Murphys/Champagne concoctions. Met so many people I knew that I was busy chatting the whole time and alas, never got to take any photos! Meanwhile, the magazine features Michael Flatley and new bride Niamh O'Brien on the cover... so check it out...
In the absence of a photo from the party, here's one taken at the opening of the Carlton Hotel in Kinsale in September. I'm the small one in pink next to statuesque models Corina Grant, Samina Zia and Stephanie Barry.
My only gripe with the jazz festival and indeed with drinks sponsored festivals in general, is the refusal of bar staff to serve non-alcoholic beers. I understand that if it's a Guinness sponsored festival we shouldn't walk up to the bar and ask for a Murphys - that's fine. However, if like me, you're driving a lot and want to order a non-alcoholic beer, you should be able to... if Guinness don't want to provide a non-alcoholic beer from its brewery, then they should step aside and allow us to choose a so-called rival's non-alcoholic brand... otherwise what are they doing - encouraging me to drink and drive? Forcing me to drink and drive? Well, while they'll never succeed to that end, endless Coca-Colas and mineral waters don't really float my boat. Shame on the breweries for their selfishness, I say! And it's not just Guinness either... the same thing has happened to me at a Budweiser sponsored festival. Very bad form....
Speaking of drink, I've been stopped in my car at Garda checkpoints a whopping three times in the past week and a half... plus another time as well about five weeks ago. I've never actually been bagged though.... I think they can tell that I have an innocent (and sober!) face. The gardai this week issued drink driving arrest figures, which they maintain are way up on the same period last year. However, I don't know how they can pass this off as an accurate comparison as there is no way that they were as vigilant themselves in catching drink-drivers this time last year. In fact I don't think I've ever been stopped at such a checkpoint before in my whole life! They are definitely pursuing a major crackdown at the moment... so of course the figures will be higher. It's amazing though how many people are still taking the chance... silly billys... it's not like the message isn't loud and clear!
Was at a great party in SoHo during the week... it was the official opening of the bar (even though it's been open for quite a while at this stage) and also the launch of new Cork social magazine RSVP. With three floors open, it was great to just wander around and take in the atmosphere... a saxophonist played around one corner, a girl sat crooning at a piano on another level, while the lads from the Roaring 40s entertained on the ground floor. Finger food did the rounds as well as an abundance of Murphys/Champagne concoctions. Met so many people I knew that I was busy chatting the whole time and alas, never got to take any photos! Meanwhile, the magazine features Michael Flatley and new bride Niamh O'Brien on the cover... so check it out...
In the absence of a photo from the party, here's one taken at the opening of the Carlton Hotel in Kinsale in September. I'm the small one in pink next to statuesque models Corina Grant, Samina Zia and Stephanie Barry.
posted by martina at 6:51 p.m.
2 Comments:
k, im not a computer generated message tellin you how to make more money but i dont agreee wit ur comment that Guinness are forcing you to drink and drive. They are meerly saying that while the acts that they have paid for are on you can drink someone elses products. Nobody can be blamed for drink driving only the person that has a drink n then gets into their car. Just drink coke or something untill they are selling the products again.
It's a pity you didn't leave your name. Firstly, I almost didn't read it because I did expect it to be another spam-type message. But besides that, it's always nicer to know who one is talking to, especially when you know who you are talking to. Without that courtesy, it makes the exchange unequal...it would simply be better manners.
I understand your point, and I did make it clear that no-one was going to get me to drink and drive. I also said that "endless coca colas" don't float my boat. I know I'm not the only one. The thing is that most of the breweries actually manafacture non-alcoholic beers (and if they don't they should). However, when it comes to festival time, they don't seem to bother stocking the pubs and venues with them. They don't think that designated drivers are important. If they bothered stocking them, they would still earn money out of us punters, whereas they won't get a cent from the coca-colas we are forced to drink instead. If they don't want to bother, then other brands' non-alcoholic beers should be categorised the same as a Coke or Fanta, ie: something they have chosen not to compete with.
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