Ahern to strengthen alcohol sale code

Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern has signalled his intention to put the voluntary code of practice on the sale of alcohol on a statutory footing.

The code provides for the structural separation of alcohol from other products in mixed-trading premises, such as supermarkets, convenience stores and garage forecourts.

It was introduced on a voluntary basis in 2008, as part of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, to allow retailers time to renovate their stores.

At an event to promote awareness of the code, Mr Ahern said the measures have significantly improved display arrangements for the alcohol in mixed-trading outlets.

He said he was encouraged that genuine efforts are being made to improve the display arrangements for alcohol products.

“It is simply not acceptable that customers are confronted with large volumes of alcohol products on entering supermarkets, convenience stores and garage forecourts,” he said.

“It is my intention to make non-compliance with this code a statutory ground on which an objection may be made to renewal of an outlet’s licence to sell alcohol,” he said.

“I intend to ensure that the display and sale standards in the code will become the norm in the mixed-trading sector,” Mr Ahern added.

The minister also called for retailers to trade responsibly in the lead up to St Patrick’s Day.

Mr Padraic White, chairman of the Responsible Retailing of Alcohol in Ireland (RRAI), which oversees the implementation of the code, the code now applied to 95 per cent of mixed traders, including all the big supermarkets, the symbol groups and garage stores.

Steps are underway to extend the code to the remaining 5 per cent small non-affiliated outlets and small traders, he said.