The Department of Justice has launched an open consultation on the Government’s review of alcohol licensing laws. The government’s consultation on the law change allows the Irish public to have their say on the legislation, and interested individuals, organisations and groups are invited to complete a Government survey to share their views. The public may do so completely anonymously and in confidence. The survey can be accessed here.
What is the Government consulting on?
The Government is consulting on the proposed Sale of Alcohol Bill, which has the objective of repealing the Licensing Acts and Registration of Club Act and to replace them with ‘updated and streamlined’ provisions ‘more suited to the 21st century’. It is also the Government’s intention to repeal the Public Dance Hall Act 1935.
From the Department of Justice: “Legislation governing the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol in licensed premises are set out in the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2018 and in the Registration of Clubs Acts 1904 to 2008. The resulting licensing code is fragmented, complex and out of date in many respects. The objective of the proposed Sale of Alcohol Bill is to repeal the Licensing Acts and the Registration of Clubs Acts and to replace them with updated and streamlined provisions more suited to the 21st century. It is also the intention to repeal the Public Dance Hall Act 1935.
“Codifying alcohol licensing law into a single Act will make it more accessible and user-friendly for the licensed trade, courts, Gardaí and the public. Any changes in alcohol licensing laws must be balanced with the need for regulation in the public interest, in particular public health and public order. Reforms will be developed with a supportive approach to businesses, and the interests of public health, consumers and communities will be central.
An initiative on reforming this legislation was undertaken in 2005. The resulting draft General Scheme on the Sale of Alcohol Bill requires updating to reflect more recent developments and revised approaches.”
According to the Department of Justice, “The Bill is intended to modernise and streamline licensing law in order to make it more understandable and user-friendly for the licensed trade, the courts and members of the public.”
From the Department: “Objectives include the following:
On Tuesday, as part of a broader Government effort to eradicate cheap drink, making alcohol more expensive so that people will not be able to obtain it so cheaply, the Government’s controversial minimum unit alcohol pricing system came into effect, putting an end to promotional deals and cheap drinks with some slabs of beer doubling in price. The mandatory price hikes mean that all alcohol will now have a minimum price based on the number of grams of alcohol, with one gram costing at least 10c.
Some supermarket alcohol has more than doubled in price because of the new minimum pricing laws. The legislation, which has been met with significant opposition, was introduced in May last year and aims to reduce consumption by heavy drinkers by making strong alcohol less affordable. The Irish Independent reported last week that the price of alcohol had already rocketed, with 24 cans of Budweiser at Supervalu going up in price from €18 euro to €40.71, an increase of €22.71. The Government believes this is a positive step because it will reduce alcohol-related harm.
According to the Department of Justice, the Minister attends to tackle ‘outdated’ alcohol licensing, and ‘modernise’ alcohol licensing laws through the Sale of Alcohol Bill. The Government states that certain principles underpin its attempt to reform alcohol licensing – transparent regulation and administration of licensing, the importance of public health and the maintenance of public order. However, the policy has also come in for criticism.
In May, Gript’s John McGuirk branded the plan to increase alcohol prices as ‘the government’s worst idea yet’. Mr McGuirk gave six reasons why he believes the plan is a ‘terrible’ one, arguing that it is a ‘regressive policy which targets the poor; it is price-fixing, not a tax; it tackles a problem that is ‘solving itself anyway’ (due to the fact alcohol consumption in Ireland has been falling dramatically over the past twenty years); it impacts the price twice (with prices being subject to VAT); it ‘distorts prices and pushes people towards harder drinks’ with the possibility of vodka being cheaper to buy than beer; and it has ‘no demographic legitimacy’ with no public demand for the change.
The closing date for submissions is close of business on 21st of January 2022. You can read the full Government guidance on the consultation process here.