ALCOHOL BILL WILL COST JOBS – HEALY RAE

INDEPENDENT Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae has claimed that the controversial Alcohol Bill that is currently making its way through the Dáil will lead to job losses in Kerry breweries.

Speaking in the Dáil last week, Deputy Healy-Rae said that new rules which will see cancer warning labels on alcohol bottles could have a detrimental impact on small brewing firms.

“When this Bill started off, people were looking to curtail binge drinking and provide for minimum unit pricing.

“Those were the objectives, but the Bill has strayed now. To be honest, it has gone haywire,” he said.

“Small distilleries and little brewing companies around the country are employing people. They are giving good employment and competing on the world market with Scotch whisky and other different whiskeys from around the world that do not need to have these cancer labels,” Deputy Healy-Rae said.

“I am pro-jobs. I do not intend to support this Bill because it will hurt people who are employed in parts of County Kerry like Killarney and Dingle, where they are doing great work. I believe these measures will do more harm than good,” he said.

According to the Kilgarvan based Deputy – who is a publican – the need for new warning labels, specifically for the Irish market, will lead to significant additional costs for small brewers.

“We have a great distillery in Dingle and the Killarney Brewing Company on the Muckross Road. The brewery’s visitor centre attracts tourists every day during the summer and is an attraction for the town.

This Bill will hurt companies such as this. How can producers compete with producers from countries such as Scotland where cancer warnings are not required on labels for Scotch whisky?” asked Deputy Healy-Rae.

“A requirement to place cancer warnings on alcohol product labels will have a damaging impact on small distilleries and breweries that are bringing new products to the market,” he said.

“The notion that producers should be required to produce a label for the Irish market only will create additional costs for them, particularly small craft brewers and whiskey distillers.

“If they are in a position to export, they will have to produce one label for Ireland and another for the rest of the world,” Deputy Healy Rae said.