The RRAI (mixed traders) are calling on Minister Shatter to enact the Miscellaneous Provisions Bill (Codes of Practice in regard to the sale of alcohol) in order to ensure that mixed traders comply with the RRAI voluntary Code, because if they do not the Minister for Justice will sign in Section 8. This means that mixed traders would have to structurally separate their off licences from their grocery etc.
All of the above is understandable because they have a lot to lose as this structural changeover would be expensive.
However they are now disingenuously seeking to use the acceptance of Codes of Practice as a means to draw specialist alcohol retailers into this melee, by advocating the removal of the display and merchandising of products in the windows of specialist shops, holding a licence to sell alcohol.
Do they not recognize that:
- Independent specialist outlets display alcohol because that is the only product they sell.
- They are trained specialist retailers who trade responsibly.
- They do not price promote alcohol merely to drive foot-fall into their shops to sell other dearer grocery products.
Will we have to black out our windows? Will our customers be required to wear rain macs?!
See excerpt from the latest RRAI report written by Mr Padraic White "Independent" Chairperson.
7.3 Promotion and Merchandising of Alcohol Products
by Stand-Alone Off-Licences
As indicated in my First Compliance Report, the RRAI members regard the exclusion of stand-alone off-licences from compliance with an agreed Code as an increasingly apparent anomaly. They have pointed to the fact that, while the Code prohibits the display or merchandising of alcoholic products in the window of mixed trader’s premises, there is no such restriction on stand-alone off-licence stores.
The RRAI expects that relevant aspects of an approved Code of compliance under the proposed legislation would apply to these off-licences.
