NOffLA Review of 2011: A pivotal year?

Despite strong sales in December, 2011 was a difficult year for retailers

Off-trade

16 January 2012

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While 2011 saw the continuation of economic turmoil and the decimation of the Irish retail sector, figures released by Retail Excellence Ireland in January 2011 confirmed the 34th consecutive month of decline in retail sales in this country.

The 2011 General Election offered a promise of new beginnings. The change of Government brought home the cold reality that any changes would take time and that the pain would continue.

However, the latter part of 2011 revealed an understanding by certain Government Ministers that the sale of alcohol was unlike other retail sales. “Alcohol is not a normal product for sale in a supermarket like food, milk, minerals or whatever. It is a potentially dangerous product and for that reason, it needs to be treated differently to other products.” The words of Minister Roisin Shortall, who continued by acknowledging the mistakes of former Governments: “It was a retrograde step to liberalise the licensing laws in the way we did, which opened up the question of availability. Availability is a key aspect, not only in terms of normalising our attitude to alcohol but also in terms of making it much more accessible to young people.”
NOffLA looks forward to the publication of promised legislation early in 2012.

Northern Ireland to introduce minimum pricing

2011 also saw the Northern Ireland Executive agree on the introduction of legislation to control and raise the minimum price per unit of alcohol.

In an interview on BBC’s The Politics Show, Northern Ireland Health Minister, Edwin Poots, said that the NIE was determined to introduce such new legislation. The Minister also accused supermarkets of irresponsible trading in their sale of alcohol at well below cost price. “I am aware of one supermarket in the run up to Christmas, not last year, the previous year [2009], having a £20 million loss leader on alcohol”.

Minister Poots’s announcement follows a consultation process put in train by the Northern Ireland Executive last March, during which the NIE said that the minimum price for a unit of alcohol should be between 40 and 70 pence.

Should the NIE pass such legislation, Northern Ireland would become the first government in Europe to introduce a minimum pricing control for alcohol.

NOffLA has since proposed that a minimum pricing mechanism be introduced in the Republic of Ireland, i.e. “offers on cheap alcohol must not dip below a statutory imposed minimum”.

A second element of the NOffLA proposal is a ban on below-cost selling, i.e. “deals promoting heavily discounted branded alcohol to drive footfall must be banned.” NOffLA opposed the removal of this ban in 2005 on the basis that it would be used as a loss-leader to draw footfall into large stores without considering the consequences of the cheap availability of alcohol.
NOffLA chairperson, Evleyn Jones, has explained to an Oireachtas Committee that minimum pricing would deter the retailing of cheap, obscure brands of alcohol, which is gaining in popularity in Ireland. Using the Scottish model, she explained that such a minimum price per can of beer would be €1.12, as opposed to 67 cent being currently charged in some Irish outlets.

Promoting standards

The National Off-Licence Association continued to promote standards of excellence with the 14th year of the Off-Licence of the Year Awards and the 11th “SIP” Irish Wine Show, both of which underlined the importance of continually striving to achieve the very best.

Time spent at the SIP Drinks Show is a great investment. This year’s event, held at Krystle Nightclub gave an added touch of glamour to the event and excitement to the awards. The opportunity to meet suppliers in one place, on one day, can save independent retailers so much time and money.

Responsible Trading

Under Anita O’Connell’s direction, NOffLA’s Responsible Trading in the Community (RTC initiative), rolled out the provision of specialised online training in addition to formal certification for management and staff who have direct responsibility for retailing alcohol. Under the new initiative, specialist alcohol retailers now have access to a dedicated e-learning facility which can lead to qualification for a ‘Responsible Trading Certificate’.

The very first person to successfully complete the online course was Mary Delahunty of Egan’s Food and Wine in Portlaoise: “I thought it was great idea to bring learning into the 21st century by having the course online. The course was easy to follow and had the advantage of great visuals, which of course brought each issue alive.”

Anita O’ Connell of NOffLA was responsible for the Responsible Trading in the Community (RTC) initiative

The Responsible Trading in the Community (RTC) programme, created and implemented by the National Off-Licence Association, has come to be recognised as one of the most successful initiatives for tackling the alcohol misuse and underage drinking problems in Ireland over many years.

Providing services

NOffLA continued to provide a high level of service to its members on a day-to-day basis throughout 2011. As the lobbying body for the independent off-trade in Ireland, the association continues to represent the views of its members, including making an annual pre-budget submission, independently and as part of the Drinks Industry Group. NOffLA also worked to maintain, and further develop, relationships with suppliers in relation to margins, prices, and promotions. NOffLA members also have the opportunity to benefit from group membership of the association’s pension scheme, and health and trading insurance provided by specialists who know the independent off-trade.

Thanks

This level of service could not be provided without great efforts on the part of the members of the NOffLA team, including administrator Reggie Walsh and chairperson Evelyn Jones. Thanks must be expressed to the members of the association’s Council for all their work throughout 2011. These men and women ensure that the association continues to represent the views of all the members across the country. The council members – and especially those on the Executive – give freely of their time to ensure that the agenda of the independent off-trade remains centre-stage within the Irish drinks industry and in the broader political and social environments.

Evelyn Jones leads an experienced and dedicated association executive for 2011/12:

• JONES Evelyn, chairperson, The Vintry, Rathgar, Dublin 6.
• O’DONOVAN Gary, Vice Chairperson, O’Donovan’s Off-Licences, Douglas, Cork.
• MC CABE Jim, national spokesperson, McCabe’s Off-Licence, Mount Merrion Avenue, Co. Dublin.
• SWEENEY Finian, treasurer, Sweeney’s Wine Merchants, Finglas Rd., Hart’s Corner, Dublin 11.
• MC HUGH Cathal, secretary, McHugh’s Off-Licence, Kilbarrack Road, Dublin 5.
• BARRY Bill, honorary president (Founder Member and former Chairperson).
• CULLEN Tommy, Jus de Vine, Portmarnock S.C., Co. Dublin.
• DEVENEY Ruth, Deveney’s Off-Licence, Main Street, Dundrum, Dublin 16.
• KINSELLA Andrew, Bin No. 9, 9 Farmhill Road, Goatstown, Dublin 14.
• MARTIN Declan, Martin’s Off-Licence, 11 Marino Mart, Fairview, Dublin 3.
• O’BRIEN Kevin, O’Brien Carry Out, Church Road, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15.
• O’CALLAGHAN Niamh, Deveney’s Off-Licence, 16 Upper Rathmines Road,
Dublin 6.
• REDMOND Jimmy, Redmond’s of Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
• SHIEL John, Londis, Malahide,
Co. Dublin.

Council 2011/12

The members of the NOffLA Executive are joined by the following independent retailers in forming the elected members
of the National Off-Licence Association Council for 2011/12:

• BUTLER Richard, Drink Store, 87 Manor Street, Dublin 7;
• CULLEN Tommy, Jus de Vine, Portmarnock S.C., Co. Dublin;
• DELANEY Grellan, The Portlaoise Wine Vault, 68 Main Street, Portlaoise, Co. Laois;
• DEVENEY Ruth, Deveney’s Off-Licence, Main Street, Dundrum, Dublin 16;
• DUNNE Peter, Mitchell & Son, The chq Building, IFSC, Docklands, Dublin 1;
• JONES Evelyn, The Vintry, Rathgar, Dublin 6;
• KELLER Pat, Keller’s Carry Out Off-Licence, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary;
• KINSELLA Andrew, Bin No. 9, 9 Farmhill Road, Goatstown, Dublin 14;
• MARTIN Declan, Martin’s Off-Licence, 11 Marino Mart, Fairview, Dublin 3;
• MC CABE Jim, McCabe’s Off-Licence, Mount Merrion Avenue, Co. Dublin;
• MC HUGH Cathal, McHugh’s Off-Licence, Kilbarrack Road, Dublin 5;
• O’BRIEN Kevin, O’Brien Carry Out, Church Road, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15;
• O’CALLAGHAN Edwin, O’Donovan’s Wines & Spirits, Douglas, Cork;
• O’CALLAGHAN Niamh, Deveney’s Off-Licence, 16 Upper Rathmines Road, Dublin 6;
• O’DONOVAN Gary, O’Donovan’s Wines & Spirits, Douglas, Cork;
• O’REILLY Brendan, Diceys Bottle Store, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal;
• REDMOND Jimmy, Redmond’s of Ranelagh, Dublin 6;
• SHIEL John, Londis, Malahide, Co. Dublin;
• SWEENEY Finian, Sweeney’s Wine Merchants, Finglas Rd., Hart’s Corner,
Dublin 11.

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