News

New limits on sale of alcohol

Wednesday, 30 July 2008 22:08

New laws restricting the sale and availability of alcohol have come into force.

Under the provisions of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008, which came into effect at midnight, off-licences must close at 10pm and gardaí can seize drink from minors.

The Minister for Justice says the new law aims to tackles the increased visibility and availability of alcohol in retail outlets while tightening the conditions under which pubs and clubs, and other licensed premises, can open beyond normal licensing hours.

Supermarkets will also be required to sell drink from an area separated from other produce.

Holders of theatre licences will also be restricted to the normal licensing hours, unless additional hours are sanctioned by special exemption.

The new laws also give gardaí tougher public order powers, including allowing officers to seize alcohol from minors and issue fixed penalties for public order offences.

High Irish alcohol tax

One in every three euro spent by Irish consumers on alcohol ends up in the Government's pocket.

The drinks industry says more than €2.2bn was paid in tax on alcoholic drinks in Ireland last year.

It says our excise duties on alcohol are among the highest in Europe - our beer tax is ten times that of Germany and seven times that of France.

Alcohol consumption peaked in Ireland in 2001, and has declined by over 5% since then.

But we are drinking more imported products. The consumption of domestically produced alcohol fell by 22% since 2000, while beverages produced abroad but consumed here rose by 90%.

The industry employs more than 62,000, but numbers have fallen over the past eight years.

More than half of pubs have sales of less than €200,000 a year.