Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Mr. Dermot Ahern TD launches new code on the sale and display of alcohol in mixed trade retail premises.
Venue: 3.30 pm, Tuesday 12 May at Tesco, Merrion Shopping Centre, Dublin 4.
Responsible Retailing of Alcohol Ireland (RRAI), established by 10 of the major retailers operating in Ireland and whose 2,600 stores account for almost 80% of alcohol sales in the mixed trade retail sector, hosted the launch today (12 May 2009) of the code of practice on the sale and display of alcohol in mixed trading premises.
Padraic White, appointed Independent Chairperson of RRAI on the 1st January last by the founding members and with the approval of the Minister, said:
“This code tasks participating retailers to sell and display alcohol in a significantly different manner than other beverage and food products thereby supporting ongoing efforts to reduce alcohol misuse in Ireland.
The code requires that an independent audit and verification mechanism be put in place to indicate if the code is being effectively implemented. The participating retailers have therefore formed the RRAI and have provided funding for its compliance monitoring activities.
I will be making my first Annual Compliance Report to Minister Ahern this coming September and that report will incorporate the results of the independent audit of a sample of 330 of members’ stores across eight regions nationally by an independent auditing company
” Padraic White concluded.
The main provisions in the Code are:
Alcohol to be displayed in only one part of the store, no other displays
Alcohol products to be placed where customers don’t have to pass through in order to obtain access to other beverages and food products
- No alcohol to be displayed in store windows
- No alcohol only advertising by retailers on television or radio
- The summary of the code must be on public display in every participating store
- A clear complaints procedure for members of the public who consider that a store is not complying with the code
Ends
From left to right: Dermot Breen, Corporate Affairs Director, Tesco Ireland, Torlach Denihan, Director , Retail Ireland, Torlough O’ Sullivan, Director General, IBEC, Padraig White, Chairperson, Responsible Reailing of Alcohol in Ireland, Frank Gleeson, Topaz, Simon Marriott, Director, BWG, DJ McAllen, Director, Musgraves
Information note for Editors:
Responsible Retailing of Alcohol in Ireland (RRAI):
RRAI has been established by the retail sector to implement and verify compliance with the code of practice on the display and sale of alcohol products in mixed trading premises.
The founding members of RRAI are, Musgrave Group (SuperValu/Centra/Daybreak), Tesco Ireland, Superquinn, Lidl, Aldi, Marks & Spencer, BWG Group (Spar/Mace), Londis, Topaz, Esso.
Independent Chairperson of RRAI, Padraic White
Padraic White is a former managing director of the Industrial Development Authority of Ireland. Since then he has chaired the boards of a wide range of private, public and community bodies. Of particular note was his chairmanship of both the National Drugs Strategy Team (2004-2007) and of the National Crime Council (1999-2007). In addition he is currently chairperson of community regeneration projects in both Belfast and Dublin.
A successful author on Irish economic development, he has advised governments throughout the world on the promotion of foreign direct investment.
Further Information for Editors:
A copy of the code is attached, alternatively the code can be viewed on the association website at www.rrai.ie