tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11950427050285361242024-03-13T00:38:38.778+00:00NOFFLAWelcome to the National Off-Licence Association's (NOffLA) Blog.
NOffLA has been in existence for over 17 years now, and represents independent off-licence owners in Ireland, and currently represent over 330 members. The association works with its members to promote the responsible sale, marketings and consumption of alchohol, and to share best practice with the entire trade.NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-80935297103589940812012-12-06T11:20:00.001+00:002012-12-06T11:20:56.810+00:00Government decision to increase excise on wine will drive out of State retailing - NOffLAPRESS RELEASE -5 December 2012<br />
<br />
The National Off-Licence Association NOffLA has today (5 December) expressed its deep disappointment over the Government’s decision to increase excise duty on wine and has highlighted its fear for the survival of the independent off-licence sector.<br />
<br />
Speaking about the increase in excise duty on wine, Chairperson of NOffLA, Evelyn Jones, said, “This is a disappointing and irresponsible decision that will do nothing more than drive out of state retailing. The excise duty on wine was increased in 2008 and the only thing that it achieved was to increase the flow of cross border shopping. Wine sales this year have already dropped by 4 percent and we can expect this figure to drop even further on the back of today’s announcement.<br />
<br />
“This increase will also have a detrimental impact on independent off-licences and on the alcohol retail sector as a whole because it will drive people to purchase their alcohol across the border. We will see business closures because of this increase.<br />
“Fortunately for Irish consumers, this increase will not lead to alcohol price hikes in independent off-licences as retailers have already bought in their pre-Christmas trading stock. Hopefully this measure will go some way to stemming the flow of cross border pre-Christmas trading."<br />
<br />
“Large multiple retailers are more than capable of absorbing increases as they can engage in below cost selling practices but for already fragile and vulnerable independent off-licences, this puts them under even more pressure."<br />
According to Jones, “Alcohol taxes in this country are high enough and are currently amongst the highest in Europe. We currently have the highest level for sparkling wine and the third highest rate for wine in the whole of Europe.”<br />
<br />
<br />
NOffLA, which represents 315 independent community-based specialist off-licences across Ireland, has witnessed 75 business closures in the last four years. Based on the current rate of closures, NOffLA expects a further<br />
25-30 businesses to cease trading in 2013.<br />
<br />
***ENDS***<br />
For further information:<br />
Karen White – Hume Brophy on behalf of NOffLA –<br />
086 771 3326NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-48166411426398746302011-07-13T13:40:00.103+01:002011-07-14T15:06:26.423+01:00IRISH OFF LICENCES AND WINE SHOPS TO BE TREATED LIKE SEX SHOPS?The RRAI (mixed traders) are calling on Minister Shatter to enact the Miscellaneous Provisions Bill (Codes of Practice in regard to the sale of alcohol) in order to ensure that mixed traders comply with the RRAI voluntary Code, because if they do not they are afraid that, the Minister for Justice will sign in Section 9. This means that mixed traders would have to structurally separate their off licences from their grocery etc. <br />
<br />
<br />
However the RRAI are now seeking to use the acceptance of Codes of Practice as a means to draw specialist alcohol retailers into this , by advocating the removal of the display and merchandising of products in the windows of specialist shops, holding a licence to sell alcohol.<br />
Do they not recognize that: <br />
• Independent specialist outlets display alcohol because that is the only product.they sell. <br />
<br />
<b><br />
<i>Will we have to black out our windows? Will our customers be required to wear rain macs?!</i></b><br />
<br />
A universal code will apply to pubs as well and I can`t see that being taken lightly by them either!<br />
<b><br />
Noffla would ask its mixed trader members to consider the following points and to bring it to the attention to the RRAI management that:</b><br />
<br />
• they got a serious get out of jail card when the minister did not sign in section 9<br />
• it is their own voluntary Code that prohibits the display or merchandising of alcoholic products in their windows .<br />
• if mixed traders are not happy with this part of their voluntary code then remove it.<br />
• this was not imposed on them by the Independent specialist sector and they now seek to impose it on us?<br />
•this is not a Independent specialist sector issue and that it is their own code that is flawed.<br />
•Independent specialists were legislated for in 2008.<br />
•Independent specialists did not get an option to voluntarily enforce 10pm closing at that time.<br />
<br />
<br />
So lets be clear here. The RRAI have TOLD the Minister in its compliance report that it<blockquote><b>"expects"</b></blockquote>that relevant aspects of an approved Code of compliance under the proposed legislation would apply to these off-licences.”<br />
<br />
We <blockquote><b>"expect"</b></blockquote>that due to this chaos Minister Shatter will be forced to implement section 9 which will ultimately prove expensive for the smaller players in the grocery trade, but that will suit the retail giants just dandy as there will be less competition for them.<br />
<br />
<b>Politics are local! So all members need to get busy talking to their government representatives on this matter.It`s your livelihood!</b><br />
<br />
Evelyn Jones<br />
Noffla Chairperson <br />
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
See excerpt from the latest RRAI report written by Mr Padraic White "Independent" Chairperson.<br />
<br />
7.3 Promotion and Merchandising of Alcohol Products<br />
by Stand-Alone Off-Licences<br />
<br />
As indicated in my First Compliance Report, the RRAI members regard the exclusion of stand-alone off-licences from compliance with an agreed Code as an increasingly apparent anomaly. They have pointed to the fact that, while the Code prohibits the display or merchandising of alcoholic products in the window of mixed trader’s premises, there is no such restriction on stand-alone off-licence stores.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The RRAI expects that relevant aspects of an approved Code of compliance under the proposed legislation would apply to these off-licences.NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-19379107101509617952011-05-16T11:39:00.000+01:002011-05-16T11:39:56.772+01:00Response on behalf of An Taoiseach Mr. Enda Kenny29 April 2011<br />
<br />
Dear Ms. Jones, <br />
<br />
The Taoiseach, Mr. Enda Kenny T.D. has asked me to refer to your recent letter.<br />
<br />
The Taoiseach has carefully noted the issues you have raised and he appreciates you taking the time and trouble to share your views with him.<br />
<br />
The Taoiseach has asked me to pass on his best wishes to you.<br />
<br />
Yours sincerely, <br />
David King<br />
Assistant Private Secretary to the TaoiseachNoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-24306969832534605302011-04-27T14:50:00.000+01:002011-04-27T14:50:37.273+01:00Response Peter Mathews TD, Fine Gael, Dublin South14th April 2011<br />
<br />
Dear Evelyn, <br />
<br />
Thank you for your letter and please accept my apologies for the delay in replying. It took longer than expected to be allocated an office in Leinster House and I am only now catching up on a backlog of correspondence.<br />
<br />
I read your letter with interest and I have raised this issue with the Minister for Finance by way of Parliamentary Question. Please find enclosed the response I received.<br />
<br />
The Minister does not commit to reviewing this proposal. However, i will personally hand your letter to the Minister to ensure that the points you have raised are brought to his direct attention.<br />
<br />
Please do not hesitate to contact me again if I can be of help on any local or national issue.<br />
<br />
Dail Question No. 106<br />
To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to revisit suggestions that the excise duty on wine will be increased because many jobs have already been lost in the off-licensce industry as a result of earlier closing times, cross borders shopping and the economic downturn; and if he will make a statement on the matter.<br />
<br />
RELPY<br />
Minister for Finance ( Mr. Noonan)<br />
As the Deputy will be aware , taxes are considered in the context of the Budget process. It is the usual practice for the Minister for Finance not to speculate in advance of a Budget on what it will contain; and I do not propose to deviate from that practice.NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-46523560975794953612011-04-27T14:49:00.000+01:002011-04-27T14:49:53.160+01:00Response Michael NoonanTD, Minister for Finance21 April 2011<br />
<br />
Dear Ms. Jones,<br />
<br />
The Minister for Finance, Mr. Michael Noonan TD, has asked me to thank you for your letter of 8 March 2011 in relation to concerns for the Off-Licence trade, and for your good wishes.<br />
<br />
The concerns expressed in your letter will be considered in the context of any deliberations in advance of the next Budget.<br />
<br />
Yours sincerely, <br />
Sean Kinsella<br />
Private Secretary to the Minister for FinanceNoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-81760686227301355312011-03-21T13:54:00.006+00:002011-03-21T19:52:37.248+00:00Response on behalf of Eamon Gilmore,An Tanaiste and Labour Party Leader<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">March 16, 2011<br />
Dear Ms Jones,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thank you for your recent correspondence to Eamon Gilmore TD, Leader of the Labour Party and your congratulations and good wishes. Eamon has asked me to reply on his behalf.<br />
As you will know since the election we have agreed to form a Government with Fine Gael. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">That Government is based on an agreed programme that we hope will bring the country great benefit. I enclose a copy of that programme for your information which deals with some of the issuesyou raise. We hope that Labour does make a difference for Ireland. That is what being in Government is all about. Together we will make Ireland the best place for all and look forward to working with you. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Please keep in touch.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Yours sincerely, <br />
Dermot Lacey</span></span>NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-33100465622226085352011-03-21T13:53:00.000+00:002011-03-21T13:53:47.902+00:00Response Fine Gael TD Tom Barry, Cork<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">March 16th, 2011<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Dear Ms. Jones,</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your congratulations and to assure<br />
you that I look forward to working with you and your organisation in the coming months<br />
and years.<br />
If I can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact my office.<br />
Yours sincerely,<br />
Deputy Tom Barry</span></span>NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-59164749406757337832011-03-16T12:22:00.001+00:002011-03-16T13:22:12.234+00:00Response Micheál Martin, Fianna Fáil<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">14th March 2011</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dear Ms Jones,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 2nd March 2011 and I appreciate your kind</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">words of congratulations. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have noted the points you have outlined.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yours sincerely,</span><i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Uachtaran Fianna Fail</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Micheál Martin</span>NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-50536781256513280602011-03-16T12:21:00.002+00:002011-03-16T13:33:59.903+00:00Response Fine Gael TD Dara Murphy, Cork<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">11th March 2011</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dear Evelyn,</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many thanks for your letter dated </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8th March 2011 and your kind wishes which I can assure you are </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">very much appreciated.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have taken on board your points with regards to the increase in excise duty on wine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will look into this matter and speak with my colleagues regarding same.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will revert to you shortly when I have information for you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kind regards,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dara </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Murphy TD</span>NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-25121107798126064742011-03-15T12:53:00.003+00:002011-03-16T13:33:28.004+00:00Response Independent TD Catherine Murphy<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">14 March 2011</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Ms. Jones,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On behalf of Deputy Catherine Murphy, T.D., I wish to acknowledge receipt of your recent</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">letter, congratulating her on securing a seat in Dail Eireann in the recent General Election.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Deputy Murphy has asked me to say that she has noted the contents of your correspondence,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and thanks you for taking the time to write to her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yours sincerely</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sheila Clifford</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Secretarial Assistant</span></span></span>NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-81624288743296763982011-03-15T10:50:00.001+00:002011-03-15T10:51:32.718+00:00Response Fine Gael TD Tony McLoughlin<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11 March 2011</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Evelyn</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Thank you for your letter of congratulations and good wishes on my election</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">to Dail Eireann. I am anxious to highlight a number of issues.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will study the documentation that you sent me and the points raised in your</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">letter. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will keep these issues on my files and look forward to meeting you either</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">locally or in Leinster House when the opportunity arises.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yours sincerely</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Tony McLoughlin TD</span>NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-44109616227965307282011-03-14T11:06:00.001+00:002011-03-16T13:35:02.148+00:00Response Independent TD Michael Lowry<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9th of March, 2011</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Evelyn,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I refer to your letter to my office, which I received this morning. Firstly let</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">me thank you for taking the time to write to my office to express your</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">concerns.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me assure you that I will bring these most serious concerns to the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">attention of the relevant authorities.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yours sincerely,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MICHAEL LOWRY T.D.</span>NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-54365643943728820382011-03-10T11:31:00.000+00:002011-03-10T12:37:34.884+00:00END BELOW COST SELLING ...THE DISCUSSION BEGINS..IS THERE A SOLUTION?PART 2<h4>See previous post for context</h4><dl class="avatar-comment-indent" id="comments-block"><dt class="comment-author " id="c1701181551761317843"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1195042705028536124&postID=5436564394372882038" name="c1701181551761317843"></a> <div class="avatar-image-container vcard"><span dir="ltr"><a class="avatar-hovercard" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/14105708522526153528" id="av-0-14105708522526153528" rel="nofollow"><img alt="" class="delayLoad" height="35" longdesc="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpfSV5e9EobPH2p0lQKH1qdvLOiDSbln4duWS5Q1ES-TbfDgGR6NZwGrGS-Lbiyg8JKVe5Pr9Y2il_3wkSyIaH8p6OSc62QqVUTJVoi6VSreJPUZ5t3NW1G7hAkcWI1fy7P5727w-f2qh/s45/beernut.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpfSV5e9EobPH2p0lQKH1qdvLOiDSbln4duWS5Q1ES-TbfDgGR6NZwGrGS-Lbiyg8JKVe5Pr9Y2il_3wkSyIaH8p6OSc62QqVUTJVoi6VSreJPUZ5t3NW1G7hAkcWI1fy7P5727w-f2qh/s45/beernut.jpg" title="The Beer Nut" width="35" /> <noscript>&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpfSV5e9EobPH2p0lQKH1qdvLOiDSbln4duWS5Q1ES-TbfDgGR6NZwGrGS-Lbiyg8JKVe5Pr9Y2il_3wkSyIaH8p6OSc62QqVUTJVoi6VSreJPUZ5t3NW1G7hAkcWI1fy7P5727w-f2qh/s45/beernut.jpg" width="35" height="35" class="photo" alt=""&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;</noscript></a></span></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/14105708522526153528" rel="nofollow">The Beer Nut</a> said... </dt>
<dd class="comment-body" id="Blog1_cmt-1701181551761317843">It is impossible to beat Tesco at their own game. Get out of the race and concentrate on offering things that lumbering giant Tesco will never be able to do: selection and customer service. You will always have to charge more than Tesco for any given product, so either let them have it and use the free shelf-space for something that will bring customers in, or else justify your premium by giving customers a better experience than they get in the supermarket. You have an agility to do that, Tesco does not. And drop the public health policy bit. Alcohol consumption in Ireland has been decreasing steadily since 2001. The abolition of the Groceries Order had no effect on it. It did not make things worse. By calling for new alcohol legislation on health grounds you're agreeing with those who want to severely reduce access to alcohol altogether: the same ones who forced you to close your doors at 10pm. The health argument is not a friend of your business. </dd><dd class="comment-footer"><span class="comment-timestamp"> <a href="http://noffla.blogspot.com/2011/03/end-below-cost-selling-discussion.html?showComment=1299684176403#c1701181551761317843" title="comment permalink"> March 9, 2011 7:22 AM </a> <span class="item-control blog-admin pid-1363456510"> <a class="comment-delete" href="http://www.blogger.com/delete-comment.g?blogID=1195042705028536124&postID=1701181551761317843" title="Delete Comment"> <img src="img/icon_delete13.gif" /> </a> </span> </span> </dd>
<dt class="comment-author blog-author" id="c8521527917616382300"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1195042705028536124&postID=5436564394372882038" name="c8521527917616382300"></a> <div class="avatar-image-container avatar-stock"><span dir="ltr"><a class="avatar-hovercard" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619" id="av-1-10770773778526339619" rel="nofollow"><img alt="" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" title="NoffLA" width="16" /> </a></span></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619" rel="nofollow">NoffLA</a> said... </dt>
<dd class="comment-body" id="Blog1_cmt-8521527917616382300">Agree and thanks for your input. It is difficult for Independent off licences in many parts of the country to compete against multiples selling main stream branded products below cost. Often this is what their customers want to purchase.Sales of niche wines and micro brewery beers just wont pay the overheads and neither will selling below cost.Meanwhile alcohol is being used by the multiples to drive other types of sales in order to gain market share and this is very disheartning. </dd><dd class="comment-footer"><span class="comment-timestamp"> <a href="http://noffla.blogspot.com/2011/03/end-below-cost-selling-discussion.html?showComment=1299708239772#c8521527917616382300" title="comment permalink"> March 9, 2011 2:03 PM </a> <span class="item-control blog-admin pid-1975137131"> <a class="comment-delete" href="http://www.blogger.com/delete-comment.g?blogID=1195042705028536124&postID=8521527917616382300" title="Delete Comment"> <img src="img/icon_delete13.gif" /> </a> </span> </span> </dd>
<dt class="comment-author " id="c209544056873243404"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1195042705028536124&postID=5436564394372882038" name="c209544056873243404"></a> <div class="avatar-image-container vcard"><span dir="ltr"><a class="avatar-hovercard" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/14105708522526153528" id="av-2-14105708522526153528" rel="nofollow"><img alt="" class="delayLoad" height="35" longdesc="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpfSV5e9EobPH2p0lQKH1qdvLOiDSbln4duWS5Q1ES-TbfDgGR6NZwGrGS-Lbiyg8JKVe5Pr9Y2il_3wkSyIaH8p6OSc62QqVUTJVoi6VSreJPUZ5t3NW1G7hAkcWI1fy7P5727w-f2qh/s45/beernut.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpfSV5e9EobPH2p0lQKH1qdvLOiDSbln4duWS5Q1ES-TbfDgGR6NZwGrGS-Lbiyg8JKVe5Pr9Y2il_3wkSyIaH8p6OSc62QqVUTJVoi6VSreJPUZ5t3NW1G7hAkcWI1fy7P5727w-f2qh/s45/beernut.jpg" title="The Beer Nut" width="35" /> <noscript>&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpfSV5e9EobPH2p0lQKH1qdvLOiDSbln4duWS5Q1ES-TbfDgGR6NZwGrGS-Lbiyg8JKVe5Pr9Y2il_3wkSyIaH8p6OSc62QqVUTJVoi6VSreJPUZ5t3NW1G7hAkcWI1fy7P5727w-f2qh/s45/beernut.jpg" width="35" height="35" class="photo" alt=""&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;</noscript></a></span></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/14105708522526153528" rel="nofollow">The Beer Nut</a> said... </dt>
<dd class="comment-body" id="Blog1_cmt-209544056873243404">I understand. But every business needs to adapt to the market, and when competing on price is not an option (and it <i>never</i> will be with Tesco, however the law is changed) you need to find something else. It doesn't have to niche wines or micro brewery beers or ultra-premium whiskeys. How about glassware? Flowers? Chocolates? Cigars? Coffee? I've seen all of these in Irish off licences. One even does cheese. The best off licences I know are the ones who engage with their customers. They hold tasting events and they promote themselves and their stock, vigorously, through the social media. They build a community of customers (like me) who keep coming back and spending money, and buying things that perhaps we hadn't thought of buying when we went in. Some of them do home delivery too. Off licences that are just sitting there passively waiting for the customer to come in and buy stuff should not be surprised that their customer is getting it in Tesco with the milk. </dd><dd class="comment-footer"><span class="comment-timestamp"> <a href="http://noffla.blogspot.com/2011/03/end-below-cost-selling-discussion.html?showComment=1299709448300#c209544056873243404" title="comment permalink"> March 9, 2011 2:24 PM </a> <span class="item-control blog-admin pid-1363456510"> <a class="comment-delete" href="http://www.blogger.com/delete-comment.g?blogID=1195042705028536124&postID=209544056873243404" title="Delete Comment"> <img src="img/icon_delete13.gif" /> </a> </span> </span> </dd>
<dt class="comment-author " id="c7257991310165689844"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1195042705028536124&postID=5436564394372882038" name="c7257991310165689844"></a> <div class="avatar-image-container vcard"><span dir="ltr"><a class="avatar-hovercard" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/09986344276474436416" id="av-3-09986344276474436416" rel="nofollow"><img alt="" class="delayLoad" height="35" longdesc="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPSxZMYflCExSDTSTBgXCa3CJDJrOU1Yxjg42U1KLTHukjssLFnzistlGVVukW4AMGFal2N6IPFoTa75QBvpJDXonHLkaIt519OrCHnTfR9LaponXSZOV76w15xodW67JdymVUZzWut5h/s45/35-700x393.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPSxZMYflCExSDTSTBgXCa3CJDJrOU1Yxjg42U1KLTHukjssLFnzistlGVVukW4AMGFal2N6IPFoTa75QBvpJDXonHLkaIt519OrCHnTfR9LaponXSZOV76w15xodW67JdymVUZzWut5h/s45/35-700x393.jpg" title="WoW Girls" width="35" /> <noscript>&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPSxZMYflCExSDTSTBgXCa3CJDJrOU1Yxjg42U1KLTHukjssLFnzistlGVVukW4AMGFal2N6IPFoTa75QBvpJDXonHLkaIt519OrCHnTfR9LaponXSZOV76w15xodW67JdymVUZzWut5h/s45/35-700x393.jpg" width="35" height="35" class="photo" alt=""&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;</noscript></a></span></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/09986344276474436416" rel="nofollow">WoW Girls</a> said... </dt>
<dd class="comment-body" id="Blog1_cmt-7257991310165689844">Beer Nut you are spot on with your comments. Keep them coming. Can you elaborate a bit on the benefits of social media as a sales tool for the unconverted ...allowing for those around the country with no broadband coverage!
</dd>
<dt class="comment-author " id="c146159217811204419"> <a href="" name="c146159217811204419"></a> <div class="avatar-image-container vcard"><span dir="ltr"><a class="avatar-hovercard" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/14105708522526153528" id="av-4-14105708522526153528" rel="nofollow"><img alt="" class="delayLoad" height="35" longdesc="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpfSV5e9EobPH2p0lQKH1qdvLOiDSbln4duWS5Q1ES-TbfDgGR6NZwGrGS-Lbiyg8JKVe5Pr9Y2il_3wkSyIaH8p6OSc62QqVUTJVoi6VSreJPUZ5t3NW1G7hAkcWI1fy7P5727w-f2qh/s45/beernut.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpfSV5e9EobPH2p0lQKH1qdvLOiDSbln4duWS5Q1ES-TbfDgGR6NZwGrGS-Lbiyg8JKVe5Pr9Y2il_3wkSyIaH8p6OSc62QqVUTJVoi6VSreJPUZ5t3NW1G7hAkcWI1fy7P5727w-f2qh/s45/beernut.jpg" title="The Beer Nut" width="35" /> <noscript><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpfSV5e9EobPH2p0lQKH1qdvLOiDSbln4duWS5Q1ES-TbfDgGR6NZwGrGS-Lbiyg8JKVe5Pr9Y2il_3wkSyIaH8p6OSc62QqVUTJVoi6VSreJPUZ5t3NW1G7hAkcWI1fy7P5727w-f2qh/s45/beernut.jpg" width="35" height="35" class="photo" alt=""></noscript></a></span></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/14105708522526153528" rel="nofollow">The Beer Nut</a> said... </dt>
<dd class="comment-body" id="Blog1_cmt-146159217811204419"> Officially (and I know <a href="http://irelandoffline.org/2010/12/broadband-now-available-in-every-district-in-ireland-minister/" rel="nofollow">IrelandOffline refute this</a>) 99% of Ireland has broadband coverage. Forfás figures from end 2009 have broadband in 54% of Irish households, a bit lower than the EU average, but not by much. My point is that for a business to decide "ah, sure none of my customers use Facebook or Twitter" is a huge mistake. 50% of Irish people are on Facebook. 50%! Why you wouldn't be putting a display in a free virtual shop window like that is beyond me. If you don't know how, then that's where, I think, maybe you should ask your representative organisation to arrange help for you.
Back in the real world there are outlets like the local paper and your own front window to advertise events, tastings, new stock, limited editions and other stuff that will help get people through your door. Make these regular and constantly changing, and you're more likely to get people into the habit of visiting your shop.
Yes, it's all effort, and hassle, and might even cost a bit of money. But I think at this stage it's an investment as necessary for survival as a fridge or a credit card machine.
</dd><dd class="comment-footer"> <span class="comment-timestamp"> <a href="http://noffla.blogspot.com/2011/03/end-below-cost-selling-discussion.html?showComment=1299757508414#c146159217811204419" title="comment permalink"> March 10, 2011 3:45 AM </a></span></dd><dd class="comment-body" id="Blog1_cmt-7257991310165689844">
<span style="color: grey; font-size: x-small;"> </span> </dd><dd class="comment-body" id="Blog1_cmt-7257991310165689844"></dd><dd class="comment-body" id="Blog1_cmt-7257991310165689844"></dd><dd class="comment-body" id="Blog1_cmt-7257991310165689844"></dd><dd class="comment-footer"><span class="comment-timestamp"> <a href="http://noffla.blogspot.com/2011/03/end-below-cost-selling-discussion.html?showComment=1299756362974#c7257991310165689844" title="comment permalink"> March 10, 2011 3:45 AM </a></span> <span class="comment-timestamp"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">COMMENT EMAIL: PAT</span></span> </span>
<div>Read the blog/history with interest.</div><div></div><div>The very kernel of the unfortunate heart of the matter is contained in your background on Tesco.</div><div></div><div>Put bluntly, Tesco owns both the British and Irish governments and neither government will do more than the bare minimum for appearances sake.</div><span class="comment-timestamp"> </span></dd></dl>NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-76990279110823845622011-03-09T13:47:00.001+00:002011-03-10T13:11:40.655+00:00END BELOW COST SELLING ...THE DISCUSSION BEGINS..IS THERE A SOLUTION? PART 1<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2cm;"><div style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span>COPY OF INITIAL POST AT THE END FOR CONTEXT.</span></span></span></div><br />
<br />
<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">COMMENT:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2cm;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">If indeed there is an appetite to deal with below cost selling then perhaps price regulation is the way forward. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2cm;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">I think we used to have it for fuel (in terms of a maximum retail price) and I’m pretty sure it still exists for tobacco (in terms of minimum retail price).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2cm;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Government sets a price below which a product cannot be sold on health grounds – end of?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2cm;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">REPLY:</span></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Minimum/pricing will not really work I am afraid although it could be a something at the very lower end of the market maybe.</span></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2cm;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It is the below cost selling of major brands by the multiples, in order to attract shoppers in, that is the problem .</span></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2cm;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So minimum pricing... lets say wine : € 5 ..beer: 80 cent .... spirits: € 15 ..this will not be any help to us ? and I don't see them going any higher than this as there are lesser known brands that sell at these prices and are not below cost.</span></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">What do you think? </span></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">COMMENT:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Appreciate your argument and agree completely – if one were seeking to prevent below cost retailing it wouldn’t be practical to simply have a generic minimum retail price for say a can of beer or a bottle of wine – one would require individual prices to be set for all products and sizes offered and that would be costly and difficult to maintain and verify.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">I’m actually not convinced that there’s an appetite for change but if there were it seems that the achievable goal might be simpler, easier solution around minimum pricing based on alcoholic content and to wrap it around public health. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">E.g. as a matter of public health policy it isn't desirable that a standard (say 500ml) measure/strength of beer/cider/perry be made available for consumption at less than €… (<span class="GramE">regardless</span> of cost), that a standard (say 70cl) measure of wine could not be made available for consumption at less than €…</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">REPLY:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Yes agree, but does that not still leaves us with the same problem as I don't believe the Government will go much above those prices I mentioned, no matter what the method of calculation</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">.The big brands will still be able to be discounted either way , driving customers out of our shops and into the mults</span>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">TO BE CONTINUED.... </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">All ideas welcome! Email info@noffla.ie or post a comment here. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #351c75;">COPY OF INITIAL POST BELOW FOR CONTEXT.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIPbtoCmDWILO461UACgtYrHi55VHT56Fe9sCAqUutfDXBkcsQJcEgC5JUD2q9Mzl1UpyLY6LqnbRuXY6AsZhSWAoGTxR9E4z4PA3odpOoLJkhF4sGPtFe518o0cfedO0-mlG0FvwG5pH/s1600/enoffla.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIPbtoCmDWILO461UACgtYrHi55VHT56Fe9sCAqUutfDXBkcsQJcEgC5JUD2q9Mzl1UpyLY6LqnbRuXY6AsZhSWAoGTxR9E4z4PA3odpOoLJkhF4sGPtFe518o0cfedO0-mlG0FvwG5pH/s1600/enoffla.gif" /></a></div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">The problem with trying to end below cost selling is coming up with an mechanism that will actually work.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">A mechanism banning sales below total duty and vat will not work as on a €7 euro btl of wine this only comes to €3.20.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">A mechanism banning sales below </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"> invoice price will just mean that the large multinational supermarkets can merely invoice the Irish division at a low price to ensure that they are not breaking the law by selling below cost. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: black;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Alcohol is used as a driver of footfall to increase the multiples market share of Grocery.</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Supermarkets are competing against each other, using alcohol ,to increase their individual share of this market</span></div><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span><br />
<b>Tesco plc</b> is a global grocery and general merchandising retailer headquartered in Great Britain . It is the fourth-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits (after Wal-Mart). It has stores in 14 countries across Asia,Europe and North America and is the grocery market leader in the UK (where it has a market share of around 30%), the Republic of Ireland,Malaysia and Thailand</div><br />
<div style="color: black;"><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If we could find a solution that is actually legal under E.U. law there is an appetite to deal with the matter.</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Reward offered! </span> </div><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div></div>NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-45322165548736839072011-03-09T12:29:00.000+00:002011-03-09T12:44:23.185+00:00ENDA KENNY REPLY<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Ms Evelyn Jones<br />
Chairperson,<br />
National Off-Licence Association</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">7 March 2011</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Dear Evelyn</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Thank you for your correspondence to my Constituency Office in respect of the Off-Licence<br />
sector. I genuinely appreciate you taking the time to contact me.<br />
I have taken note of the points raised in your message and I will discuss them with the<br />
relevant Fine Gael Spokespersons in the future. Once again, thank you for taking the<br />
time to contact me.<br />
Very best wishes,<br />
Yours sincerely,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">ENDA KENNY, TD<br />
LEADER OF FINE GAEL</span></span>NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-87708528999160645732011-03-02T16:11:00.000+00:002011-03-02T16:11:12.227+00:00THE 100 DAYS WAR... you can stop wine prices from increasing by 20%<div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">There will be an emergency budget within 100 days, possibly sooner, and a proposed wine duty increase is highly likely..as wine duty is seen as easy middle class revenue.</span></div><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN!</span></div><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Write to your local candidates ...see the previous post for content. </span></span></div>NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-90847863977085400602011-03-02T13:00:00.000+00:002011-03-02T13:00:37.104+00:00LETTER TO ELECTED CANDIDATES OF THE 31ST DAIL<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I would like to congratulate you on your recent election to the 31<sup>st</sup> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dáil Éireann</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">.<span> </span>As the various parties get ready to form a coalition, I would like to draw your attention to the following commitments in the Fine Gael and The Labour Party General Election manifestos.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">A <i>“€1 increase in excise duty on a bottle of wine by 2014”</i> (Fine Gael).</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">A <i>“modest increase in excise on wine”</i> (Labour) </span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Any increase on wine will further impact on our sector that is already facing major challenges as a result of the economic downturn and deep recession, but it will also cost jobs, revenue to the State, and impact negatively on Irish tourism.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">2,600 jobs have been lost in the independent off-licence sector in the last three years, with average turnover down between 25-50% as a consequence of the economic downturn, cross-border shopping and the introduction of earlier closing times</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">.</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;"><span>·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">A €1 excise increase will produce a 20% increase in the average selling price of wine through excise and VAT alone.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The €1 excise increase is estimated to result in €60m additional revenue - this is based on an assumption that there will be no decline in sales. F</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">ollowing the October 2008 wine excise increase the wine market fell by 10%. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">This excise increase also coincided with a major increase in cross-border shopping of which the price differential between alcohol North and South was a major contributory factor.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">As a consequence, the Government cut excise duty in December 2009 which saw a 15% increase in the wine market.<span> </span>The majority of this increase comes from repatriation of business from across the border.<span> </span>Nielsen data shows that wine volumes in Northern Ireland dropped by 10% in 2010 and Kantar Worldpanel Data further shows that cross-border shopping overall has stabilised.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Recent experience suggests that a <span style="color: black;">€1 excise hike</span> will simply encourage consumers to revert to purchasing wine and other products in </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Northern Ireland</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> where prices will be significantly cheaper.<span> </span>On this basis, it would be reasonable to assume that an excise increase will result in a 10% to 15% drop in in-state purchases.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;"><span>·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">A 15% drop in sales would neutralise any revenue gained by the State from the excise increase through lost excise and VAT revenues - the excise cost would be about €45m and VAT cost would be €15m.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<br />
</span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The market decline will lead to further redundancies and unemployment throughout the industry leading to further unemployment.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Each job lost in the sector has a direct exchequer cost of €20,000</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">While we fully understand the difficult choices that face the incoming Government at this time, we believe that any increase in excise on wine will have a detrimental impact on consumer confidence, jobs, and tourism and will reverse much of the repatriation of cross-border revenue achieved over the last 12 months.</span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">We would greatly appreciate your help in this matter</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">.</span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Yours sincerely,</span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-5239514526480258152011-03-02T12:57:00.000+00:002011-03-02T13:07:44.326+00:00ENDA KENNY, FINE GAEL<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;">Enda Kenny, T.O.<br />
Constituency Office,<br />
Tucker Street,<br />
Castlebar, Co Mayo.<br />
Tel: 0949025600<br />
Fax: 0949026554<br />
E-mail: enda.kenny(a)oir.ie</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;">22nd February, 2011</span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">FINEGAEL<br />
<br />
Dear Evelyn<br />
Thank you very much for your recent correspondence which I<br />
received. Enda is currently on the campaign trail but I will bring<br />
your letter to his attention on his return to the office.<br />
Thanks again for taking the time to write to me.<br />
In can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact<br />
me.<br />
Very best wishes,<br />
Yours sincerely,</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">ENDA KENNY, T.D.<br />
LEADER OF FINE GAEL</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></b>NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-86756759289627302112011-02-28T16:14:00.000+00:002011-02-28T16:14:45.281+00:00Áine Collins Cork North West Fine Gael CandidateAttention Evelyn Jones.<br />
Chairperson<br />
<br />
Dear Ms Jones.<br />
<br />
Further to your letter of the 15th February please find my response below:<br />
<br />
In relation to Point 1, the Fine Gael position is that under-cost selling by<br />
the large retailers is wrong and especially harmful to young people or those<br />
who may be influenced by strong marketing messages.<br />
<br />
With regard to Point 2 we believe that you should be allowed to open until<br />
12 midnight.<br />
<br />
Point 3 and the issue around Section 16, Fine Gael will absolutely support<br />
the completion of Section 16. We as a party acknowledge the importance of<br />
responsible retailing of alcohol.<br />
<br />
Yours Sincerely,<br />
<br />
<br />
Áine Collins<br />
Millstreet Town,<br />
County Cork. <br />
087 2326945NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-56121951997236538922011-02-23T14:21:00.000+00:002011-02-23T14:21:22.524+00:00Heide Schniete CORK<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top"> <div>Dear Evelyn Jones.</div><div> </div><div>Thank for your letter. We are sorry that we can't answer your question. We are a movement that will empower people and has no answers to give yet only when the people have voted for it. Please feel free to look up CPPC.ie</div><div>We can see your problems and understand your concerns about the business.</div><div>We are looking fore-ward to stay in contact and when you will come to meetings and make citizens of this country aware of your problem, to discuss it and that our elected candidates can take the vote from the people to the <span><span>Dail</span></span> Eireann to be heart there.</div><div> </div><div>Thank you again.</div><div> </div><div><span></span></div><div>yours sincerely</div><div> </div><div>Heide Schniete</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-81450770392526576172011-02-23T14:18:00.001+00:002011-02-23T14:18:59.572+00:00Paul Doonan Cork South West Candidate<div>Greetings Evelyn,</div><div>Thanks for your letter which I received today.</div><div>In my opinion the off licence trade was the victim of a badly thought out, knee jerk reaction, piece of legislation.</div><div>The new hours for opening times of off licences make no logical sense at all.</div><div>Your industry must however make more of a visible and concerted effort to ensure sales to minors or for minors does not occur.</div><div>If elected I would be happy to pursue getting section 16 of the liquor bill 2008 signed and enacted.</div><div></div><div>NewVision.ie Independent alliance candidates first priority is to separate bank debt and sovereign debt in order to avoid the threat of state bankruptcy</div><div>Please consider New Vision Independent candidates for your highest preferences.</div><div></div><div>Thanks and regards,</div><div>Paul Doonan</div>NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-57272403185261748572011-02-23T13:15:00.000+00:002011-02-23T13:15:40.105+00:00COLM MC GRATH, INDEPENDENT, DUBLIN NORTH WEST.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> Dear Ms. Jones,<br />
Just a short note to confirm my support for the signing of Section 16 of The Liquor Bill<br />
of June 2008 banning the use of alcohol as a promotional tool in advertising.<br />
If elected I will pursue this matter on your behalf and seek a review of the opening hours<br />
which should coincide with pub opening hours.<br />
Yours sincerely,<br />
Colm McGrath<br />
Independent.</span>NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-2534680338854735642011-02-23T12:58:00.000+00:002011-02-23T13:03:31.489+00:00EAMONN ZAIDAN, INDEPENDENT ,DUBLIN SOUTH.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Eamonn Zaidan</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 88 Whit8church Way</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Ralhfamham</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Dublin 18</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Ph: +353(0863355342</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Emall:info@eamonnzaldan.ie </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Web: <a href="http://www.eamonnzaidan.ie/">http://www.eamonnzaidan.ie/</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
22February 2011</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">Dear Ms. Jones,</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Firstly let.me apologise for the delay in writing back to you but I have been extremely busy with<br />
canvassing and catching up on correspondence.<br />
In response to your letter dated 15 February 2011, this is my answer on this subject.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I</span><span style="font-size: small;">f elected, as an Independent, I would </span><span style="font-size: small;">seek to reverse </span><span style="font-size: small;">the Bill introduced by former Minister Dermot</span><span style="font-size: small;"> Aherne.I was actually shocked to see this bill go through in the first place</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">All it achieved was a further attack on local businesses and their viability. In fact, <br />
been taking steps backwards </span><span style="font-size: small;">modem Ireland has </span><span style="font-size: small;">in my opinion.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am aware that not everyone fits into the 9-5 slot with regards to working hours.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">In response to section </span><span style="font-size: small;">3 of your </span><span style="font-size: small;">letter, I would advocate that the new Minister for </span><span style="font-size: small;">Justice </span><span style="font-size: small;">signs Section</span><span style="font-size: small;">16 of the Liquor Bill of June 2008.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">I am answering your letter based on my own </span><span style="font-size: small;">viewpoint and not for populist reasons</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You can see what I am all about on my website <i>www.eamonnzaidan.ie </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;">Kind regards</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Eamonn</i></span></div>NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-33827049970490738102011-02-22T12:28:00.000+00:002011-02-22T12:28:35.927+00:00BRENDAN SMITH, FIANNA FAIL T.D, CAVAN, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"> Dear Evelyn,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><br />
I received your recent letter and I note the contents.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><br />
Yours sincerely</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">BRENDAN SMITH T.D.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD</span></span>NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195042705028536124.post-80436853739095141122011-02-22T12:24:00.000+00:002011-02-22T12:24:26.892+00:00Benjamin Ashu Ashu-Arrah, AMRSC. Independent Candidate ,CorkNorth-Central<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Benjamin Ashu Ashu-Arrah,<br />
Independent Candidate<br />
Apt 6, 12 Charlemont T' ce,<br />
Wellington Road, Cork.</span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Dear Evelyn,<br />
Thanks for your letter dated 15 February 2011 on behalf of the members of the National<br />
Off-Licence Association highlighting various issues.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">I will be having a debate with other candidatesof CorkNorth-Central on the 2</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">1st </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">of this </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">month with Cork FM 96, which will be broadcast on Wednesday at 10 am.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><br />
I will be asking any of them irrespective of any political party that when elected,</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">· </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><br />
.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">They must pressure the government in power to extend off-licence opening time</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">· </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">to 11.30 pm</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Secondly, there should be legislation preventing supermarket from selling alcohol</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">· </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">below the market price .</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Thirdly</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Section 16 of the Liquor Bill of June 2008 should be signed and enacted without</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">any-delay.<br />
I believed that any thing that can help prevent further job loss and creation of new ones<br />
should be encourage, as this is the only way we can get out of recession.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><br />
Benjamin Ashu Ashu-Arrah, AMRSC.</span>NoffLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10770773778526339619noreply@blogger.com1