Whisky Olympics? It's nothing but a dram slur

Published on Wednesday 14 October 2009 13:06

IT IS known as the whisky Olympics, where forearms are strengthened by hoisting drams and throats lubricated by liberal doses of the "water of life".

Yet, as the Royal NationalMod got into full swing in Oban yesterday,

the nickname was dismissed as a myth.

While uisge beatha is popular among many participants, John Macleod, president of event organiser An Comunn Gidhealach, insisted he had never

seenanyone in a drunkenstate at the Mod.

"I have been involved in the Mod for quite a long time and I don't recall seeing anyone under the influence of having far too much to drink," he said.

"There is nothing wrong with having a dram with friends, and

welcoming people, but other than that, I don't see any link between

the Mod, in this day and age, and the likes of that saying.

"I suppose people weremocking the language when they

spoke about the whisky Olympics."

The Mod, Scotland's leading Gaelic festival and the annual meeting point for Gaels, has had no major whisky sponsor for the past few years and Mr Macleod said the organisers would be delighted to talk to anyone in the

industry willing to support it.

He said: "I don't want to be critical of whisky – we are accustomed

to saying 'slainte' (cheers] with a whisky; it is part of our

culture – but it doesn't mean we are drinking a bottle at a time."

Allan McKie, president of Oban and District Licensed Trade Association, said: "They do call it the whisky Olympics, but I have to concur with Mr Macleod.

I can honestly say that in the Gaelic world, you do not see folk in an excessive state. This is my third Mod and there wasn't any trouble at the last two. There wasn't one single person arrested at the last Mod for being

drunk and disorderly."

Although some of the town's pubs are open until 5am for Mod

week, he said this was because there had been no record of trouble

at past events. And he said the music concerts didn't finish till

11pm, which was when people would meet for a drink.

Last year's Mod was held in Falkirk and it brought an estimated

1.5 million in revenue to the town.

Brian Flynn, owner of the Behind the Wall pub in Falkirk, said: "They certainly drink a lot of whisky. Falkirk is not known as a whisky town and we went through a lot that week. But the Highlanders can handle their

drink so I wouldn't say we had any increase in drunkenness."

Angus MacPhail, from Oban's Skippinish Ceilidh House, said:

"I have been to every Mod in the last ten years and I have never

seen any problems.

"Generally, people don't go overboard, it's a very sensible

crowd."