Off-licenses criticise calls for point-of-purchase labelling

The National Off-License Association has criticised calls for the point of purchase to be clearly indicated on the labels of all drinks products.

Fianna Fáil’s Batt O’Keefe, the chairman of the Oireachtas health committee, and Labour Party TD Joe Costello, have both called for such a measure in an effort to combat the sale of alcohol to minors.

However, Jim McCabe of the National Off-License Association said EU law already required drink containers to carry a traceable code.

Mr McCabe said politicians should instead focus on the introduction of a mandatory national ID card scheme to tackle underage drinking.