Proposed new scheme for pub goers might mean you’ll never have to pay for a taxi again
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You could soon make money by offering lifts home from the pub.
The Transport Minister is considering ‘community cars’ in rural areas, where sober volunteers would be paid to bring customers back safely.
It is part of a bid to cut down on drink driving which could also include free fizzy drinks for drivers and extra hackney licences where there aren’t enough taxis.
Minister Shane Ross says they’re even looking at publicans driving customers home themselves.
He said: “I don’t expect it to be totally free of charge to anybody because there may be insurance complications.
“If we get into a situation where publicans take people home they may be acting in a commercial way which might change their insurance premiums.
“We haven’t got down to the costs yet but we don’t think it will be very expensive.
“What we will be looking to do first of all, is get the communities to help themselves.”
But Independent Kerry TD Michael Healy Rae says he sees a number of practical difficulties with the idea.
He said: “It’s not financially viable” for a publican to leave the bar to take customers home, especially if they are all living in separate locations.
He continued: “How practical is it for the publican to say to the rest of the people ‘I have to leave the bar now for a while because I have to do a run’.”