RGDATA has warned that the new controls on the sale and display of alcohol put forward in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill this week will disproportionately impact small businesses while strengthening the dominance of larger stores when it comes to alcohol sales.
RGDATA Director General Tara Buckley said the the new provisions on structural separation of alcohol prodocts in stores will have a heavier impact on smaller, family-owned shops with less capacity to adapt their business premises, but will leave the large mulitple operators untouched.
She added that the main problem with the display of alcohol products in shops has been the irresponsible marketing and promotional policies, such as below-cost selling, used by some large retailers.
“They have adopted wholly irresponsible and reckless sales practices, some of which will at last be addressed by this Bill,” she said.
“However they are also the main retail winners from this new legislation as the new rules on structural separation of alcohol products will cause them limited inconvenience and allow them to strengthen their market position in liquor sales.”
Buckley warned that many small retailers will not be able to fund the structural separation put forward in the Bill, and may have to give up on alcohol sales completely.
She concluded by saying that RGDATA would make its concerns known to the Minister for Health and seek changes to the Bill as presented.
© 2015 - Checkout Magazine by Jenny Whelan.
