Minister Shatter Reviews Display Of Alcohol

A review will be held to decide whether current laws about the display of alcohol in shops are effective, as prominent display of alcohol remains a "concern", the drink drive limit decreases and taxes are likely to be hiked up on strong drink.

Currently in supermarkets, convenience stores and other mixed trading outlets it has been asked that the alcohol for sale be displayed separately however this is voluntary.

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Mr Alan Shatter, today launched a review of the voluntary Code of Practice. The voluntary Code was introduced in 2008 as an alternative to the statutory rules for structural separation of alcohol products. Legislative rules have not yet been brought into operation.

Mr Shatter said: "Following 3 years’ experience of the voluntary Code, the time has come for a comprehensive review of whether the voluntary approach to structural separation is proving effective in practice.”

A report from the Responsible Retailing of Alcohol in Ireland (RRAI) indicates an overall compliance level of 85% across the mixed trading sector based on an independent audit.

Supermarkets scored a rating of 96% compared with an average score of 79% for convenience stores.

"While progress has been made in separating alcohol products from other food and drink products in many outlets, the reality is that the large quantities of alcohol on display in some supermarkets and convenience stores, and the prominence given to alcohol products, remains a cause for concern," said Minister Shatter.

The Minister concluded by saying that he intended to seek the views of the Minister for Health and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality before reaching any decision on whether to bring statutory rules into operation.

New Drink Drive Laws 'No Soft Touch'

Meanwhile Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has rejected claims that a penalty points system introduced as part of a new crackdown on drink driving is a soft touch.

The new regime, in force from midnight tonight, will give authorities a sliding scale to deal with offenders instead of mandatory court appearances.

Mr Varadkar dismissed accusations that removing the automatic driving ban for first time lawbreakers was too lenient.

"It’s important that people don’t mistake this as being a soft touch," he said.

"It’s not, it’s actually getting a lot stricter."

The new measures, which take effect from midnight on Thursday, will see the drink drive limit reduced from 50mg to 20mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood for specified drivers, which includes people who have been driving for less than two years and professional drivers.

The limit for other drivers will be reduced from 80mg to 50mg.

In addition a new alcohol strategy, expected later this year or early in 2012, will say more about price of alcohol products with the hope of imposing a minimum unit price for alcohol.

(LB/GK)