Big businesses should face bigger fines for consumer protection breaches, watchdog says

• Published date: 25 April 2024
• Author: Ian Curran
• Publication title: Irish Times: Web Edition Articles (Dublin, Ireland)

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) on Thursday said it had issued a warning to pub owners to display price information for the benefit of consumers or face penalties

In a letter to the Vintners' Federation of Ireland and the Licensed Vintners Association this week, the watchdog said consumers must be able to compare prices in the hospitality sector, "particularly in light of rising prices".

Pub owners are required to post an up-to-date list of drink prices at the door and full price lists indoors everywhere drinks are sold.

The fixed penalty for a breach of the 1999 order is set by law at €300. Offenders may also be served with a compliance notice, which can be appealed in the District Court within 14 days.

Thirteen fixed-penalty notices were issued to nine traders in Dublin and Kildare last year for breaches of the Retail Price (Beverages in Licensed Premises) Display Order, the CCPC said. The list of offenders includes Fitzsimons Temple Bar in Dublin 2, Davy Byrnes on Duke Street, Dublin 2 and the Lansdowne Bar at Terminal 1 in Dublin Airport.

However, a spokeswoman for the CCPC said the penalties were not high enough to stop larger businesses from breaching consumer protection laws in general.

"The level of fines that can be issued for breaches of consumer-protection law is not a deterrent for...