Irish stores to separate alcohol from food

Published: 27 October, 2008

Supermarkets and convenience stores in Ireland could soon be forced to separate alcoholic drinks from food and other products using a permanent barrier or turnstile.

Supermarkets and convenience stores in Ireland could soon be forced to separate alcoholic drinks from food and other products using a permanent barrier or turnstile.

According to the Irish Independent newspaper, negotiations between retailers and the Department of Justice are at an advanced stage and an announcement will be made next month.

The measures had been due to come in earlier this year, but were shelved for further consultation.

Negotiations were now at an advance stage, a government source told The Independent.

A new code of practice is to be drawn up that will involve controlling access to the off-licence area.

The aim is to end the impression that alcohol is just another grocery product.

Stores that are too small to separate alcoholic drinks will have to sell them from behind a separate counter (with the exception of wine).

The news comes a week after it was revealed that the UK government is considering forcing supermarkets to introduce alcohol-only checkouts.