Stores fail to abide by code on alcohol

Three out of every 20 supermarkets and convenience stores failed to comply with the grocery sector’s own voluntary code on the display and sale of alcohol products last year.

The results of an annual audit mean stores’ compliance levels have now fallen to their lowest level since the code was introduced five years ago.

The latest annual report by the Responsible Retailing of Alcohol in Ireland group, which covers the 12-months to last September, showed an overall compliance rate of 83.5%.