Shoppers the only losers from bag levy

ONE of the most sophisticated multi-million rip-offs facing shoppers is so slick most people are not even aware they are being taken for mugs.

It all revolves around the extremely successful plastic bag environmental levy which has met its main aim of reducing litter but has also provided retailers with a neat way of cutting overheads by millions.

The bag levy is a nifty win, win, win, lose situation with the Government, retailers and the environment the big winners. Ordinary shoppers are the big losers, down a whopping €13.5 million a year.