Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/Radu Bercan

You won't be able to use supermarket loyalty points to get discounts on alcohol from today

The enactment of another provision from the Public Health Alcohol Bill 2018 follows the introduction of the so-called “booze curtain” in November.

THE USE OF bonus or loyalty card points to purchase alcoholic drinks at a reduced price is banned from today.

Furthermore, short-term price promotions of alcohol at a reduced price for three days or less is also prohibited under legislation which comes into force today. 

The sale of alcohol at a reduced price or given away for free when sold with another product or service is also now banned.

The provisions come into force today are part of the Public Health Alcohol Bill 2018. 

It follows the implementation in November of the so-called “booze curtain”, where retailers must separate out alcohol from other products in their shop.

However, other landmark pieces of the legislation, such as minimum unit pricing on alcohol and advertising restrictions have yet to be enacted. 

Alcohol Action Ireland said that the enactment of these regulations today is “part of a process to denormalise alcohol as an ordinary grocery product”. 

Its head of communications Eunan McKinney said: “In practice, with so much alcohol now purchased in the retail landscape, these regulations will act as a small impediment to encouraging greater use and so contribute to reducing alcohol harm.

“Crucially, the ending of short-term promotion, so evident throughout the supermarket multiples, will bring some reason to what has been truly reckless price reductions on alcohol.  

The fundamental action that is required next is the immediate implementation of minimum pricing of alcohol products, which has been interminably delayed by government inertia, yielding to the concerns of the alcohol producers. 

The government has indicated on a number of occasions that it wants to implement minimum unit pricing – which targets the cheapest and strongest alcohol products – at the same time as Northern Ireland. But in recent times, that has shown little sign of becoming a reality in the North. 

The ban on certain alcohol promotions also comes after it emerged last week the government is considering banning the sale of alcohol after a certain time of day

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said work is being done on new public health regulations to strengthen the law around drinking alcohol in public streets to give gardaí more powers of enforcement.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
55 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vincent Bickerstaffe
    Favourite Vincent Bickerstaffe
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 6:52 AM

    The minority world influence the majority world

    572
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Barry Somers
    Favourite Barry Somers
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 6:57 AM

    @Vincent Bickerstaffe: when you consider the wasted money caused in our health and mental health services because of alcohol. Not to mention the massive harm it causes to family’s.

    Anything that reduces this is a good thing.

    209
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fi Wyse
    Favourite Fi Wyse
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 7:23 AM

    @Barry Somers: But why should I be penalised for somebodies vice? I haven’t drank since New Year’s Eve I don’t drink that much and when I do I prefer to drink in a social setting but I can’t even do that because the pubs are closed!
    But when I will do one to enjoy my bottle of wine I don’t want to have to pay over the odds for it just to compensate for other people stupidity and selfishness

    766
    See 9 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mickety Dee
    Favourite Mickety Dee
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 7:31 AM

    @Barry Somers: Is there any evidence to show increasing prices reduces these things? Before you mention Scotland, consumption was falling long before minimum pricing was introduced

    137
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Munsterman
    Favourite Munsterman
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 7:44 AM

    @Barry Somers: in that case why not go the whole way and just ban alcohol so?

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael McGrath
    Favourite Michael McGrath
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 7:58 AM

    @Barry Somers: And how much money from the sale of alcohol goes into the health services. Raising the price of cigarettes did nothing to stop the heavy smoker from buying only the casual smoker and it will be the same with this. Once again the minority driving policy in this country where everyone is punished for the sins of the few.

    151
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pius Flynn
    Favourite Pius Flynn
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 8:03 AM

    @Barry Somers: if you want to believe everything the “man” says.

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mickety Dee
    Favourite Mickety Dee
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 8:38 AM

    @Michael McGrath: Smoking is a good example. Restricting advertising had a much greater effect at reducing consumption than price increases ever did

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas O' Donnell
    Favourite Thomas O' Donnell
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 8:53 AM

    @Fi Wyse: You’re already being penalised with some of your taxes going to fund dealing with alcohol related illnesses and incidents in hospitals/Garda stations/courts/social services

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fi Wyse
    Favourite Fi Wyse
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 9:22 AM

    @Thomas O’ Donnell: what’s already happening doesn’t bother me I’m used to it something new is what I’m against

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciaran Farrelly
    Favourite Ciaran Farrelly
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 1:01 PM

    @Fi Wyse: Well said.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciaran Farrelly
    Favourite Ciaran Farrelly
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 1:01 PM

    @Fi Wyse: Well said.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Noel Donohue
    Favourite Noel Donohue
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 7:06 AM

    We’re living in a nanny state

    475
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe
    Favourite Joe
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 11:18 AM

    @Noel Donohue: I completely agree. It’s likely due to the fact we’ve far too many politicians in this country and their all out to put their stamp on something and get their name in the paper. Whether it’s road safety imposing 30km limits and reducing the drink driving limit so that you can’t even have a pint.
    I’ll be travelling over the border to stock up on wine

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fi Wyse
    Favourite Fi Wyse
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 7:30 AM

    Absolutely ridiculous law which is going to have no effect on people’s attitude towards alcohol or their consumption, if somebody wants to have a drink they are going to have a drink regardless of what the price is.
    The new doors in the supermarkets are absolutely hilarious it only stokes up children’s curiosity even more as to what’s behind them! I’m an occasional drinker and it just annoys me being forced to pay more for something that I can use in a sensible manner.

    447
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lisa Quinn
    Favourite Lisa Quinn
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 7:43 AM

    @Fi Wyse: I think its more just promotional stuff. Like buy 6 for 50 or using a bottle of wine to bump something up a bit to get a certain% off. For example of your weapon of choice is santa rita 120 sauvignon blanc and thats 8.85 in your local supervalu( purely hypothetical ; ) ) then that will remain that price,they have yet to bring in minimum pricing per unit….also yes the big door flaps in aldi are a pain in the tits

    80
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fi Wyse
    Favourite Fi Wyse
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 7:59 AM

    @Lisa Quinn: yeah I think I’m looking way too much into the future when the minimum pricing actually does take effect…. I’m very upset over it because my Weapon of Choice is normally the lovely Spanish wine in Tesco for €3.99 it’s the only red wine that doesn’t cripple me with reflux. So according to my boyfriend I will no longer be a cheap date!!! The funny thing is I have already knocked a child out with those doors the poor little thing!!!

    99
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lisa Quinn
    Favourite Lisa Quinn
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 8:05 AM

    @Fi Wyse: jesus! Ahahahah well there is already a tight enough space I there!!

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fi Wyse
    Favourite Fi Wyse
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 8:35 AM

    @Lisa Quinn: I felt awful but then I could see the Da having a little giggle once everything was ok. Sure look!!

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Dunne
    Favourite Paddy Dunne
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 6:52 AM

    So everyone gets punished because of the few lovely , you do things right in this country and you get punished the as the Clowns

    294
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Whitehead
    Favourite Paul Whitehead
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 3:46 PM

    @Paddy Dunne: you really feel punished because you cannot spend your €0.99 worth of Spar points accumulated over 5 years on booze?? Have a look down the back of your sofa.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Madra
    Favourite Madra
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 7:05 AM

    I hope they do the same with products containing sugar. It’s as bad as alcohol.

    130
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ben
    Favourite Ben
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 8:13 AM

    @Madra: Totally agree..The glucose level of cocaine is terrible these days. Probably why the price has gone up…

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Noel McGivern
    Favourite Noel McGivern
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 8:39 AM

    @Madra: they have, sugar tax already implemented on soft drinks. That’s why high sugar drinks are more expensive that low. E.g. coke vs coke zero

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ben
    Favourite Ben
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 8:02 AM

    Don’t forget! The Act was lobbied for and supported by the VFI. A federation of 3rd generation, publican bouzies who at the best of times look to take away your freedoms in support of chronic Alcoholics spending in their own establishments. How the tables have turned.

    105
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rose Margaret
    Favourite Rose Margaret
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 8:39 AM

    I can see more shopping trips up North on the horizon.

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stasia Morley
    Favourite Stasia Morley
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 10:08 AM

    Close the Dail bar first

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim Lingk
    Favourite Jim Lingk
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 11:15 AM

    @Stasia Morley: Wouldn’t be a bad example to set.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anto Harris
    Favourite Anto Harris
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 8:41 AM

    Alcohol Action Ireland me bollix!!

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Dunne
    Favourite Paddy Dunne
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 6:52 AM

    So everyone gets punished because of the few lovely , you do things right in this country and you get punished the same as the Clowns

    80
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eddie Michael
    Favourite Eddie Michael
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 7:12 AM

    Too late… all the cheaper alcohol was sold in bulk or special buys before Christmas.
    You want to know why we have the numbers we have????
    Thank the government for failing to do anything about alcohol sales before lifting the restrictions….
    Well done Mehole….

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim Lingk
    Favourite Jim Lingk
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 7:21 AM

    @Eddie Michael: Would love to see your data in this.

    On the actual topic (which has nothing to do with Covid) we are already one of the most expensive countries in Europe for alcohol so price and cost is not the issue. Removing loyalty card points and even minimum pricing isn’t going to make a meaningful difference to alcohol consumption in Ireland.

    168
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mickety Dee
    Favourite Mickety Dee
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 7:33 AM

    @Jim Lingk: Removing sports sponsorship would have a much greater effect than price increases

    64
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim Lingk
    Favourite Jim Lingk
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 7:45 AM

    @Mickety Dee: Yes, that is likely. And removing ALL advertising would have a greater impact again. But there’s too much money wrapped up in that. The Irish strategy had been to hit the price. And it’s not working and will not work.

    Proper education around health, diet and exercise, from an early age, is key in this. The problem with any policies like that is it takes a long time to change a long term problem and no government can crow about how successful it is or isn’t because it will take twenty to thirty years to see much change.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Des Doyle
    Favourite Des Doyle
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 10:29 AM

    Not sure many / any of the younger alcoholics (as we have been deemed) have loyalty cards so the ‘doing it to protect younger people’ argument doesn’t really hold up either.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Saunders
    Favourite David Saunders
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 10:09 AM

    How many alcoholics have given up because the price of booze has gone up?

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute MyBrokenKnees
    Favourite MyBrokenKnees
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 6:51 AM

    Loyalty points are sh 1te anyway!

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mickety Dee
    Favourite Mickety Dee
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 7:30 AM

    @MyBrokenKnees: it’s not just loyalty points. Dunnes do a fiver off a 25 spend so effectively alcohol is up by 25% there

    62
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Longlin
    Favourite Longlin
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 10:04 AM

    @MyBrokenKnees: I’m aware that they are used as a way of keeping you shopping in the same shop but the Dunnes ones effectively mean that you get 20% off all marked prices if used correctly. Can’t speak for anyone else but this means my shops there are cheaper than even the German discount shops having checked receipts of both.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anna Carr
    Favourite Anna Carr
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 9:54 AM

    Ah for pitys sake. Soon we’ll have government buzzers in our homes telling us when to brush our teeth and when to poo and the TV will turn off after so many hours of watching. It’s getting ridiculous. I’ve followed every other rule and it’s like it’s never enough

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Handsome McWonderful
    Favourite Handsome McWonderful
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 11:02 AM

    I don’t care at the moment cos it’s Dry January but in February I’m putting on my horned fur hat and storming the Dail.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Pelow
    Favourite James Pelow
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 10:19 AM

    I thought the booze curtains were a great invention to keep under-aged people out of the alcohol section of supermarkets and curb underage drinking (even though our youth drink less on average than almost every other EU country). IMAGINE MY SHOCK when I saw a young adult around 17 casually pulling the little gate back and walking in. It didn’t stop him at all!?

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Batster
    Favourite Batster
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 8:32 AM

    This is like a sugar tax, absolutely ridiculous. Education not more tax is needed to save people from themselves.

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Des Doyle
    Favourite Des Doyle
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 10:11 AM

    Sainsbury in Newry might get busy once restrictions are lifted.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Philippe
    Favourite Philippe
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 12:44 PM

    @Des Doyle: If they have the stock, or Sainsbury’s sold off their Northern Irish operations.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ed w
    Favourite ed w
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 8:20 AM

    I’d say my local supervalu willie delighted as it’s all I ever use the vouchers for. most of the wine I bought pre xmas is still in the cupboard

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Darren Byrne
    Favourite Darren Byrne
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 8:33 AM

    Snowflake s

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Proudly Italian
    Favourite Proudly Italian
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 1:13 PM

    well… so, for few irresponsible who cannot control themselves, and get drunk every other day, I -wine lover- should be penalized even more (prices on wine are already out of common sense here). Not to mention those AA puppet, saying that “people needs to be educated in not perceiving buying alchon as a normal thing”.
    Why, teach people since they’re kid to *enjoy* alchol is too difficult? I grew up with the botthe of wine always on my table. My dad allowed me to sip from is glass since I was 7…. I still don’t remember ever seen him drun, and i can count with one hand the times I got drunk myself in nearly 50 yrs.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gil Thelander
    Favourite Gil Thelander
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 7:55 AM

    Maybe I’ve missed this point but could anyone clarify the following please? If I have a voucher for a supermarket, can it be used towards buying alcohol?

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Longlin
    Favourite Longlin
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 8:19 AM

    If it’s a gift voucher given by someone it can be spent any way you like but this refers to money back vouchers such as Dunnes €10 off €50 vouchers.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ben
    Favourite Ben
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 8:29 AM

    @Longlin: More reason to gift Bitcoin

    4
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gil Thelander
    Favourite Gil Thelander
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 11:06 AM

    @Longlin: thanks for the clarification

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute RBUman1
    Favourite RBUman1
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 12:52 PM

    Ridiculous “booze curtain” doors are now giving Covid a new way to spread. Dirty touch points.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cindy Brolin
    Favourite Cindy Brolin
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 1:46 PM

    Boo-hoo! Who cares? You’d have to buy a gazillion pints of drink to make a buck, given the miniscule value of the ‘Loyalty points’.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Philip Thomas Foster
    Favourite Philip Thomas Foster
    Report
    Jan 11th 2021, 10:34 PM

    That will stop everyone drinking ffs

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds