Off licences are acting as a “vital cog” in the community during the coronavirus outbreak, and should avoid being portrayed as seeking to “profit” from the public health crisis, the National Off Licence Association (NOffLA) has privately told its members. The association, which represents over 300 off licences, recently sent talking points to its members in the event businesses were contacted by the media. The message to off licences was prompted “in light of recent media queries to several of our members regarding trade/sales on St Patrick’s Day,” it said. There are now 683 confirmed coronavirus cases in the State, and three people have died. The correspondence from NOffLA recommended if off licences were contacted by the media they should stick to a list of talking points provided.

Source: The Irish Times March 21, 2020 11:15 UTC