Retailers fear new alcohol rules

Strict proposals to separate the sale of alcohol in shops will be costly for small retailers and lead to job losses, Government TDs and senators have warned.

Blocked or blacked-out areas in stores, special screens, or moveable walls may be needed to comply with new drink separation rules under the Public Health Alcohol Bill, Fine Gael members say.

New fit-outs could cost convenient stores tens of thousands of euro, lead to less customers, changes to opening hours, and even higher levels of shoplifting, it has been warned.