It appears that Fine Gael policy is to increase Duty when only 14 months ago Fianna Fail were forced to reduce the previous year's Duty increase, due to a huge drop in revenue and an increase in cross - border shopping.

Sam Locke, Non-party, North Kerry-West Limerick

Reply from Sam Locke, Non-party, North Kerry-West Limerick.  He supports NOffLA and understands the difficulty off-licences are in as a result of shorter trading hours and that people should have the opportunity to purchase alcohol later, particularly those who do not work 9-5 jobs.  He would support reverting to previous opening hours to protect off-licences and allow family owned businesses to survive.

Mr Noonan hit out at Labour over their criticism of Fine Gael Wine Duty Increase

Mr Noonan(Fine Gael) hit out at Labour after the party ran Tesco-style national newspaper adverts mocking Fine Gael's economic policies, with the slogan 'Fine Gael -- Every Little Hurts'.
Derisory
He added: "To be taking ads in the national papers, deploring the fact that the big bad wolves in Fine Gael are going to put an extra euro on a bottle of wine and destroy your standard of living seems to me to be derisory.
"I can't understand how the Labour Party have got themselves into a position where they are criticising Fine Gael for putting a euro on a bottle of wine," he added.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/fg-warns-of-dreadful-time-as-tax-war-rages-2546303.html

PETER MATTHEWS FINE GAEL DUBLIN SOUTH

 Peter Matthews  supports the intelligent selling of alcohol and wanted to know if there was anything else in Section 16 he should know about that he was wary of supporting something he didn’t know a lot about.He was unable to email his response as he is very busy working on the election but  was kind enough to ring us.

Matthew Parker (Caseys, Centra, Roscommon)

It is great to get  feedback on the election  and of the different stances each party employs. It would be absolutely stupid if the future government were to  implement extra taxes on wine, which then would seriously affect trade especially with existing taxes already affecting peoples weekly take home pay. Yours sincerely Matthew Parker (Caseys, Centra, Roscommon) NoffLa Member

ATT: LABOUR PARTY :WINE EXCISE DUTY INCREASE WILL DISTROY OFF LICENCE EMPLOYMENT

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, marketing and consumption of alcohol, and to share best practice with the entire trade.

At present we are reviewing election manifestos as they are published and following up with the parties in question.

One issue of particular concern in your manifesto is the proposed excise duty increase on wine .. This would be a disaster for cross border trade in particular, as it would make the average bottle of wine substantially more expensive. We cannot afford for this to happen. With the erosion of our beer and spirit market share due to supermarkets using them as loss leaders, it is vital that we stay competitive for wine.

The Labour Manifesto States:

“Labour is proposing a 1% increase in the standard rate of VAT that will raise €310 million in a full year. Labour's proposals include modest increases in excise on wine and cigarettes. Labour will prioritise action to reduce losses to the Exchequer from smuggling through stronger revenue enforcement".

PLEASE  ELABORATE ON” MODEST” AS OUR MEMBERS WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOUR OF THIS.

1. There is a misleading perception that the off-licence trade is ‘doing well’ and that the shift to home consumption has been to the benefit of local off-licences.  This is not the case.

• Our business has been decimated by the large retail groups who use the irresponsible promotion and sale of cheap alcohol as a driver of footfall into their shops.
• These retail giants are making the survival of many small, often family owned, off-licence shops impossible.
• Soon we will have no local shops or businesses left in our area whatsoever.

What will you do about this?

2. The reduction in off-licence trading hours to 10 pm has impacted most on the independent off-licence.

• We need to open later to sustain and remain in business.
• We require a return to the original hours of trading in order that we can look after our local customer (and visiting tourist) that should have the right to purchase alcohol off-sales within pub opening hours.
• Not everyone works 9 to 5.  Many people finish work at 10pm and we are closed.
• If we are prepared to put in more hours in order to ensure the survival of our business why can’t we?

What is the logic in differentiating between on and off-trade?

Why can we not operate pub hours?

3. The Liquor Bill of June 2008 has an important Section that the then Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern, did not sign in.  Section 16 bans the use of alcohol as a promotional tool in advertising. It only requires the signature of the new Minister for Justice to enact this measure.  The newspapers are awash with volume deals of alcohol as the large retailers compete for their grocery market share at our expense.

If elected to government will you commit to getting Section 16 signed in and thereby acknowledge the importance of the responsible retailing of alcohol?

We look forward to your response by return in order that we can advise the members of your position.

Yours sincerely,

EVELYN JONES

Chairperson

Contact Details

Block D, Unit 6
Nutgrove Office Park
Rathfarnham
Dublin 14
Ireland
Tel +353 1 296 2326   
Fax +353 1 296 2451

 

Email evelyn@noffla.ie

ATTENTION FINE GAEL .....EXCISE DUTY INCREASE NOT ACCEPTABLE

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, marketing and consumption of alcohol, and to share best practice with the entire trade.

At present we are reviewing election manifestos as they are published and following up with the parties in question.

One issue of particular concern in your manifesto is the proposed excise duty increase on wine duty. This would be a disaster for cross border trade in particular, as it would make the average bottle of wine substantially more expensive. We cannot afford for this to happen. With the erosion of our beer and spirit market share due to supermarkets using them as loss leaders, it is vital that we stay competitive for wine.

Fine Gael Manifesto

Progressive Measures to Increase Taxation on Import-Intensive Consumption

a) Increases in standard rate of VAT to 22% in 2012 and 23% in 2013

b) €1 increase in excise duty on a bottle of wine by 2014

c) Extra VAT yield from banning below cost selling of alcohol

Please elaborate on points a) and c) as I would like to notify our membership in detail. They have already been advised to raise the matter with their local candidates

1. There is a misleading perception that the off-licence trade is ‘doing well’ and that the shift to home consumption has been to the benefit of local off-licences.  This is not the case.

• Our business has been decimated by the large retail groups who use the irresponsible promotion and sale of cheap alcohol as a driver of footfall into their shops.
• These retail giants are making the survival of many small, often family owned, off-licence shops impossible.
• Soon we will have no local shops or businesses left in our area whatsoever.

What will you do about this?

2. The reduction in off-licence trading hours to 10 pm has impacted most on the independent off-licence.

• We need to open later to sustain and remain in business.
• We require a return to the original hours of trading in order that we can look after our local customer (and visiting tourist) that should have the right to purchase alcohol off-sales within pub opening hours.
• Not everyone works 9 to 5.  Many people finish work at 10pm and we are closed.
• If we are prepared to put in more hours in order to ensure the survival of our business why can’t we?

What is the logic in differentiating between on and off-trade?

Why can we not operate pub hours?

3. The Liquor Bill of June 2008 has an important Section that the then Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern, did not sign in.  Section 16 bans the use of alcohol as a promotional tool in advertising. It only requires the signature of the new Minister for Justice to enact this measure.  The newspapers are awash with volume deals of alcohol as the large retailers compete for their grocery market share at our expense.

If elected to government will you commit to getting Section 16 signed in and thereby acknowledge the importance of the responsible retailing of alcohol?

We look forward to your response by return in order that we can advise the members of your position.

Yours sincerely,

EVELYN JONES

Chairperson

Contact Details

Block D, Unit 6
Nutgrove Office Park
Rathfarnham
Dublin 14
Ireland
Tel +353 1 296 2326   
Fax +353 1 296 2451

 

Email evelyn@noffla.ie