The body representing soft-drink manufacturers is calling on the Government to ban the sale of heavily discounted alcohol in supermarkets, shops and service stations.

New health labelling providing information about the salt, sugar and fat content of all soft drinks is to be introduced over the next few months.

SHOPPERS have been warned to expect rapid food price rises in the coming weeks with supermarkets and convenience stores set to pass on the burden of increased costs.

The Beverage Council of Ireland (BCI) wants the Government to reduce the VAT rate on bottled water, fruit juices and soft drinks in next week’s Budget from its current level of 21% to 13.5%.

The drinks industry agrees that reducing the level of alcohol-related harm in Ireland is “imperative”, according to Michael Patten, Chairman of the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI).

REDBRANCH, a not-for-profit consultancy which provides healthy eating and lifestyle seminars to primary school children, has accused the country’s soft drink lobbyists of attempting to blatantly market their products in the classroom.

THE popular soft drink Diet Club Lemon was withdrawn from the shelves yesterday after it was found to contain high levels of a cancer-causing chemical.

The Beverage Council of Ireland has slammed a media report linking the consumption of soft drinks in Ireland and obesity.

THE Government is to push ahead with controversial laws which could see teenagers caught with fake garda age cards facing a year in jail or fines of up to €3,000.

The Government came under pressure today to reduce VAT on bottled water.

The Government is to push ahead with controversial laws which could see teenagers caught with fake garda age cards facing a year in jail or fines of up to €3,000.

The Beverage Council of Ireland has claimed that lifting the Groceries Order banning below cost selling would not be of any real benefit to consumers.

CHILDREN travelling in the back seats of air-conditioned cars can get dangerously dehydrated, it was claimed today.

Wine continues to be the strongest growing product category in the Irish alcohol market, according to new research published today by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland.

A new national standard for Irish bottled water has been launched.

A report commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) has found the industry accounts for 80,000 full time jobs in Ireland and pays over €2bn in taxes annually and says consumption of alcohol is falling.

SOFT drinks have been scapegoated for the rise in obesity among children, beverage industry chiefs said yesterday.

The Beverage Council of Ireland is accusing the Government of contradicting its own policies in the 2004 Budget.

PUBLICANS admit they are ripping off customers with exorbitant prices for soft drinks.

THE €2 billion drinks supply industry sent out a strong warning, at the weekend, that it won’t tolerate any extra waste taxes.

TÁNAISTE Mary Harney said yesterday people should not pay high prices for soft drinks and fruit juices in pubs.

Incredible is the only way to describe Tánaiste Mary Harney’s admission that she could not understand why soft drinks could be bought by publicans for 30 cent and sold over the counter for €1.20.

The Beverage Council of Ireland has criticised Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy’s decision to raise the VAT rate on soft drinks to 21% in his budget earlier this month.

The Beverage Council of Ireland has described the Government’s voluntary identity card scheme as a "complete failure".