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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 24 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 6

Written Answers. - Drinks Industry.

Ceist:

106 Dr. Upton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will monitor the price of beverages on sale in licensed premises; the rise in prices in the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14719/00]

The statutory control of prices ceased in the 1980s. Since then, the policy of successive Governments has been to promote greater competition and consumer awareness. While prices are not now controlled by regulation but are determined by competition in the marketplace, competition requires fair rules – which are set out in the Competition Acts – and price transparency.

Price transparency is essential if consumers are to be in a position to make informed decisions about purchases. On the specific question of the price of beverages on sale in licensed premises, I took action last year to bring greater transparency to the drinks trade: I made the retail price (beverages in licensed premises) display order, which requires the display of certain prices immediately outside or immediately inside each entrance to a premises. As a result of this order, consumers are now provided with fair warning of the prices being charged before they enter a premises so that they can take their custom elsewhere if they believe those prices to be unreasonably high.
The order is enforced by the Director of Consumer Affairs, who has the power to prosecute for non-compliance with the order.
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