Escalating alcohol abuse blamed on cheaper prices

The abolition of the Groceries Order without the exclusion of alcohol from below-cost selling has contributed to an escalation in alcohol abuse, the chairman of the National Off-Licence Association said yesterday.

Speaking at the association's annual general meeting, Jim McCabe said there was now a free-for-all in the alcohol market that has contributed enormously to the escalation of alcohol abuse.

The Groceries Order, which had banned retailers from passing on to consumers any discounts received from wholesalers, was rescinded last year.

Mr McCabe said this has led to multiples and discount operators selling alcohol at give-away prices, and in some cases giving away alcohol in order to lure customers into their shops.

"In a country recognised to have a serious problem in relation to alcohol abuse and under-age drinking, this is the height of irresponsibility.

"Yet it has been facilitated by a Government which has demonstrated a total lack of understanding of how to deal with the problem."

He added: "We now have a situation in Ireland where it is cheaper to buy a can of beer than a can of coke."

In a statement, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin, said the Groceries Order was not designed to tackle the issue of alcohol abuse and there was no evidence to suggest that it was capable of doing so.