Independent off-licences breathed a sigh of relief when the Minister for Finance opted not to increase excise duty on alcohol. 

It is no great revelation that our tastes in wine frequently change with time.

Alcohol Action Ireland has called on the Government to prioritise the health of children and not to pass the alcohol industry’s self-regulatory codes into law.

The new laws setting out a minimum price for alcohol have been broadly welcomed both by campaigners and drinks industry groups.

Alcoholic drinks will carry calorie counts, health warnings, and a minimum price floor under a wide-ranging Government bid to combat abuse.

As you load your trolley with booze this Christmas, it’s worth remembering a huge chunk of your money goes straight to the Government, says Leslie Williams

A group representing off licences has slammed the availability of alcohol at self-service tills in Ireland.

Michael Noonan decided to spare the wine community in Ireland further pain in the recent budget so I suppose we should be grateful for small mercies.

Old reliables such as the price of a pint, petrol and diesel, motor tax, and VRT have been left untouched.

A leading addiction service is predicting a 70% jump in admissions to its adolescent centre this year.

The National Off-Licence Association is calling on the Government to reverse excise duties which have been imposed on alcohol in the last two budgets.

Some six out of 10 off-licences may be forced to close if excise duties are increased in the next budget, a representative body has claimed.

Almost 60% of independent off-licences across Ireland face the risk of closure in 2015, it has been claimed.

The Government has been accused of political cowardice for caving in to the drinks industry and not setting a date for the banning of alcohol sponsorship at sporting events.

Publicans have warned the 10 cent increase in the cost of a pint of beer and measure of spirits will put up to 2,000 jobs at risk in the drinks sector this year.

The National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA) has said it is deeply disappointed over the Government’s decision to increase excise duty

Off-licences across the country were reporting brisk trade last night as shoppers flocked to buy wine before the price shot up from midnight.

Publicans have called on the Government to introduce a novel “lid levy” of 15% on all off-licence sales in next week’s budget in a bid to raise extra taxes and counteract the problem of the availability of cheap alcohol.

The National Off-Licence Association is hitting out at proposals put forward by the Vintners Federation of Ireland.

The Government has been urged to introduce a national training scheme for people who sell alcohol to ensure their safety.

The Government has been urged to introduce a national training scheme for people who sell alcohol to ensure their safety.

The Government is considering watering down a key recommendation in an expert report aimed at addressing the availability of cheap alcohol.

Off-licence owners have expressed alarm at suggestions from the Government that it might row back on laws compelling retailers to separate alcohol from other products.

Budget blues in December pushes annual consumer spending down by as much as 7%, according to the National Retail Industry Alliance, who argue the Government’s VAT tax take would rise significantly by moving the budget to February.

IF you’ve taken on a ‘new you’ programme to counteract the excesses of the festive season, you deserve every credit.

IF you haven’t yet stocked up yet for tonight’s fun, there are still plenty of options for festive fizz and I take a look at some of the best value ones below.

A nightclub in Co. Westmeath has been found to have breached the MEAS code on the responsible promotion of alcohol.

WHILE everyone else is talking about a crash, there was a gentle and altogether more reassuring “pop” as the National Off-Licence Association unveiled its 2008 Gold Star Awards.

The Government appears to be preparing to restrict the availability of alcohol.

WATCHDOGS yesterday said stopping shops from selling cheap booze would only backfire.

AFICIONADOS of wine from Australia and Spain have reason to raise a glass to the 2007 National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA) Gold Star selection as those countries have made a clean sweep of two key categories.

THE National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA) has unveiled its 2007/2008 Gold Star Award wines.

The off-licence trade says it is shocked at reports that the new Minister for Justice is planning to restrict opening hours.

BINGE DRINKING by youngsters is being fuelled by the sale of cheap alcohol in supermarkets and garages, according to the president of the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland.

IRELAND is in the grip of booze wars as retailers fight to win vital Christmas custom by offering rock-bottom prices on drink.

TOUGHER measures need to be introduced to combat underage drinking, the National Off-Licence Association (NOFLA) said yesterday.

THERE’S a big surprise in store for Irish wine drinkers today. A quick look at the latest National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA) Gold Star Awards raises just one question — where have the French gone?

The organisation representing the off-licence trade has accused the Government of adopting a worryingly lax approach to Ireland's alcohol problem.

The National Off-Licence Association has claimed the Government's removal of the ban on below-cost selling is fuelling alcohol abuse.

THE Government’s failure to introduce mandatory ID cards is to blame for the “totally unacceptable” level of underage drinking in Ireland, off-licence chief John Shiel claimed yesterday.

The lack of a national ID card is hampering efforts to stamp out underage drinking, 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.