Pub owner defends unplugging customer's extension lead charging three devices at once

A pub owner has defended himself for unplugging a customer's extension lead that they were using to charge three devices at one time.

The customer ordered a drink at Oscars Cafe Bar in Dublin and took out an extension lead to charge a laptop, phone and a tablet for four-and-a-half hours.

Pub owner Ronan Flood said after realising what was happening he unplugged the extension lead when the customer went to the toilet to avoid a confrontation.

He told Newstalk's Lunchtime Live show: "I plugged the extension out at the wall - thinking that the guest would take the hint.

A customer took out an extension lead to charge a laptop, phone and a tablet for four-and-a-half hours (Google Maps)

"I headed off to one of the other bars, and I came back... and the same guest was still sitting there with the devices plugged in.

"In fairness, he had got a second drink - but it was like 'Ah here, 4.5 hours this is a bit much'."

Mr Flood said he then spoke to the customer over the "excessive use" of electricity during an energy crisis.

He said: "I went down to the customer and just said to him that 'This is excessive use of our electricity, you're kind of taking the proverbial with the plug board'.

"I just asked him to put the plug board away".

Mr Flood said he spoke to the customer over the "excessive use" of electricity during an energy crisis (Google Maps)

The customer questioned if this meant he was not welcome in the bar.

Ronan replied: "You're welcome to be in the bar, but not if you're excessively using our electricity.

"He walked out the door - we both had a mutually respectful conversation, and he went on his way."

The pub owner decided to post about it on social media after saying the interaction "grated on him later on in the day".

Using the Oscars Cafe Bar Twitter account he wrote: "[Seen] it all now. [Customer] sits for 4.5 hours and plugs 3 devices into his own plug board. Ireland 2022 summed up in 1 image #whatenergycrisis #cheeky"

One person agreed with the pub owner, writing: "Shocking carry on!!!"

Another added: "It's akin to stealing in plain sight."

Speaking on the radio show Ronan added: "We'd see nobody stuck - anyone that comes in and needs to charge up a phone, we're under no illusions here, we know it's not a colossal cost to charge devices.

"But everything has to be done in moderation, and it wasn't in this case".