A Sligo publican and former Fine Gael senator says the new Public Health (Alcohol) Bill will put an end to the sale of cheap alcohol in outlets such as supermarkets.
The bill is coming before the Seanad this week and in an amendment, small shops would be given the option of keeping alcohol products in view but confined to a maximun of two storage units of certain size.
All other retailers would have to keep alcohol in a closed unit in a separate area, with the products not visible to customers.
There’s also to be restrictions on sponsorship of events where the majority of participants are children.
Former senator Imelda Henry, a members of the Vintners’ Federation who runs the well-known Blue Lagoon premises in Sligo, says there are many aspects to the Bill: