Fresh Govt crackdown on alcohol sales in Irish shops with new loyalty card rule – it won't affect Dunnes or SuperValu
THE Government is set to launch a fresh crackdown on alcohol sales in Irish shops.
Customers may not be able to use supermarket loyalty cards to obtain discounts on alcohol under new regulations being submitted by Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.
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However, existing laws prohibit using loyalty card points to purchase alcohol.
And further laws are now planned for their use to buy cheap booze.
Those who shop at
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However, those who use
The Minister for Health confirmed that regulations will need to be submitted to
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "The minister has begun developing regulations to address alcohol price promotions related to the possession of a loyalty card.
"The
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Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll McNeill hasn't given an indication on when the new law may be enacted.
Christine Wright- Function Alcoholic
Separately, the Chairperson of Alcohol Action Ireland has said he does not believe the issue of health warnings on alcohol needs to be "examined again".
Minister for Finance
He cited increased pressure on the drinks industry due to US tariffs and the need to maintain competitiveness as the reason behind a new examination.
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However, AAI Chairman Professor Frank Murray said the labelling has nothing to do with tariffs, describing it as a health issue, not an economic one.
He said: "I don't believe that it needs to be re-examined.
"It was examined in enormous detail at national, and indeed at EU level, when it was first proposed and the legislation got through despite the huge lobbying activity of the alcohol industry, which is an enormously powerful industry.
'NO EXCUSE FOR DELAY'
"I think the most important thing to remember about it is that the alcohol health warning labels are a health issue.
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"They're not an economic issue and that they've got nothing to do with their exports and tariffs. This is entirely for the Irish market.
"So, what we're seeing from the alcohol industry is lobbying and, I believe, misleading the Government in relation to this. So, this will have no impact on exports or on tariffs or anything like that."
Prof Murray said the labelling is important because many people do not know about the risks from alcohol, particularly cancer.
He added: "People don't know of the risks of alcohol, particularly cancers, and they don't really understand what cirrhosis is, many of them as well.
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"And there's widespread use of alcohol during pregnancy across Europe, including in Ireland.:
Prof Murray said the Public Health (Alcohol) Act was introduced "after much discussion" in 2018.
And, with labelling not due to come into effect until 2026, he said there is "no excuse anymore" for delaying.
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Customers may soon not be able to buy alcohol for a reduced price using a loyalty card
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
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