Below-cost selling encourages binge drinking, say off-licences

THE GOVERNMENT has been accused of facilitating binge drinking by failing to stop supermarkets and convenience stores from selling alcohol below-cost.

The National Off-Licence Association (Noffla), which represents about 350 independent stores around the country, said that the decision not to impose mandatory legislation covering the promotion of alcohol by multiples last year was behind the increase in consumption.

“Key elements of legislation introduced in July 2008 aimed at curbing alcohol abuse and underage drinking have not yet been brought into effect because the Government has buckled under pressure from the international retail giants operating in this market and the consequence is a complete failure to tackle the ongoing national problem of binge drinking,” Noffla’s chief executive Jim McCabe told delegates at the association’s annual general meeting in Dublin yesterday.

Measures to restrict the promotion of alcohol by multiples were due to be introduced as part of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008, which led to a reduction in the opening hours of off-licences and late bars and an increase in on-the-spot fines to combat alcohol-related public disorder. However, the measures were put on hold pending the introduction of a voluntary code of practice.

“It is more than ironic that one of the few changes to liquor licensing that was in fact subsequently enforced in the new licensing legislation was in relation to the trading hours for off-licences. The net result was that the sector that has demonstrated the highest level of standards in responsible trading suffered the greatest level of curtailment in trading hours,” said Mr McCabe.

“The reduction in trading hours only adds to more bulk purchasing by consumers, disbelief among visiting tourists and the likelihood of illegal selling of alcohol outside licensing hours by irresponsible traders,” he added.