Fine Wines gather 8,500 signatures in one month
THOUSANDS of Limerick people have signed a petition in off-licences across the city and county for the return of former opening hours, it is claimed. Noffla (National Off-Licence Association of Ireland), launched the petition in Dublin, following a suggestion from a customer.
Last year, the government introduced legislation which requires off-licences to close at 10pm in an effort to decrease alcohol related public-order offences.
Noffla spokesperson, Jim McCabe, is aggrieved by the situation but emphasised that the petition was customer driven.
“It was suggested by a customer in Dublin and when one outlet started a petition, we were surprised so many people signed it, so we started it in the rest of the country”.
He also said that people were frustrated by the earlier closing time, “Its crazy that we have a situation where adults can’t buy alcohol to drink privately in their home after 10pm, but can purchase and consume alcohol in public after this time”.
John Blake, managing director of Fine Wines, which has gathered 8,500 signatures in one month, said: “We have in recent times felt betrayed by the Government’s insistence that off licences shut by 10pm”.
He is offended by the restriction on their opening hours, “For many years we have set high standards for responsible alcohol retailing, and invested in management and staff training”.
Blake also feels customers are angry with this “curfew” as it implies that adults are not responsible enough to purchase alcohol after 10pm.
Jim McCabe is in no doubt the reduced opening hours have affected the off- licence trade.
“It’s definitely affecting business because customers have changed their buying habits. People are often caught out by the early closing time and in order to remedy this, they will purchase alcohol in supermarkets during the day”.
He added that tourists are baffled by the early closing time as in most European countries, such restrictions are not in place,
“Tourists can’t believe it…the lower budget tourists such as backpackers and people in camper vans cannot understand it as alcohol can be purchased at any time in most countries”.
