A report from Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) has described compliance with legislation on the visibility of alcohol products as “uneven and unsatisfactory”.

Section 22 of the Public Health Alcohol Act 2018 requires retailers who sell alcohol to have a physical barrier between the off-licence area and the rest of the premises.

In its latest survey of alcohol prices, AAI also referred to separate research conducted earlier this year by a Masters of Public Health student at University College Cork. From a sample of 90 retailers, this found only 58% compliance with section 22 of the legislation.

“The unsatisfactory rate of compliance by retailers to match the regulations of the Public Health Alcohol Act, after having been afforded a two-year transition, is deeply disappointing,” said AAI chief executive Dr Sheila Gilheany.

Affordability

AAI’s price survey found that an adult male, consuming alcohol within the HSE low-risk guidelines, could drink the weekly low-risk limit of 17 standard drinks for €7.65. The figure for an adult female was €4.95.

“The findings confirm the exceptional affordability of alcohol to everyday shoppers,” AAI said.

It added that its figures illustrated the need for rules on the minimum pricing of alcohol products that are due to come into effect on 4 January next year.

In Ireland, a standard drink is 10 grams of alcohol, and the legislation sets the minimum price for a gram of alcohol at 0.10c. This means that consumers will not be able to buy a standard drink of any alcohol product for less than €1.