Press Release
‘Respect Initiative for St Patrick’s Day’
Monday, March 02, 2009
An initiative aimed at Vintners to promote safe and responsible behaviour for the St Patrick’s Day celebrations will be launched on Wednesday 4 March in the Craft Village at 1.45 pm by the Mayor, Councillor Gerard Diver.
The initiative entitled “Respect the Shamrock, Respect Yourself” is a joint initiative between local vintners and the Civic Alcohol Forum aimed at encouraging patrons to enjoy the celebrations in a safe and responsible way. It has been designed as a charter of good practice for all premises selling alcohol. The initiative also links up with Derry City Council’s Carnival Care initiative aimed at making the event a family friendly celebration.
The Mayor, Cllr Gerard Diver, endorsing the Respect Initiative said he hoped it would encourage the public to enjoy the celebrations sensibly. “There is an excellent programme of events organised in the city for St Patrick’s weekend and any initiative that encourages responsible behaviour and a sensible attitude to the selling and consumption of alcohol is to be welcomed. This scheme was first introduced last year with great success and I would like to commend the vintners who have adopted this scheme.”
“This scheme is part of a wider Carnival Care programme that has been undertaken by Council to encourage a more responsible attitude to alcohol. It provides information in relation to time checks and check lists for parents as well as a code of practice for off licences and the Only 5 initiative, which encourages the use of identification to admit persons to licensed premises,” he added.
Eamon O’ Kane of the Derry Healthy Cities Project said the ‘Respect the Shamrock, Respect Yourself’ charter displays the commitment of local vintners to the provision of a safe, responsible and well-managed St Patrick’s Day. “The Charter will be clearly displayed in all participating premises and sends a clear message to customers of the standards of best practice promised during the St Patrick’s Day celebration,”
When asked why Vintners were taking part in the scheme, Les Doherty, Chair of the Derry Vintners Association said; “The Vintners in this City take their responsibilities in relation to alcohol sales very seriously. For this reason we have always displayed a willingness to work pro-actively with the Civic Alcohol Forum and we are delighted to be able to support the Respect initiative. St Patrick’s Day is a busy time for our members and we want to make it as safe and memorable for both members and customers as possible. That is why this year we are making our intentions clear through the display of the Respect Charter and we hope that our patrons will welcome this initiative and work with us on the day.”
It is expected that the Respect Charter will become a regular feature of key events in the City and will provide a benchmark for other towns and cities in the province.
Ends
Notes to Editor
- The Civic Alcohol Forum is an interagency; inter sectoral body established to begin to address the negative impacts of alcohol on the health and image of this city.
RESPECT THE SHAMROCK - RESPECT YOURSELF
Event Charter
This charter represents a commitment to support and co-operate with the Civic Alcohol Forum in the Derry City Council area to make this event a safe and enjoyable one for all our patrons. We value your custom and want to make today memorable for the right reasons.
In signing this charter the owners and staff of these premises are committed to an enjoyable celebration weekend that is based upon a safe and responsible approach to alcohol amongst all. Through the charter we commit to the following objectives:
- The Vision of a clean, safe and vibrant day of celebration that ensures a responsible attitude to alcohol.
- The maintenance, monitoring and enforcement of standards of good practice expected of premises selling alcohol.
- Appointment of appropriate staff numbers to facilitate an enjoyable day in our premises
- The prevention of the sale of alcohol to children or people buying alcohol for children
- The prevention of admission and alcohol sale to intoxicated patrons
- Prevention of any glass emerging onto the street
- The facilitation of safe and enjoyable celebration by all of our patrons
- The responsible consumption of alcohol by all our patrons
- The safe and responsible dispersal of all patrons at the close of business
PLEASE ENJOY YOUR DAY
Further press information can be obtained by contacting Derry City Council’s Marketing and Communications Section, Tel. 028 7137 6504.
