Jus de Vine for National Off-Licence of Year

Jus de Vine in North Dublin emerged once more as the ‘National Off-Licence of the Year’ for 2020 last night at the 24th annual Off-Licence of the Year Awards which took place at the Honourable Society of King’s Inns.

 

 The Malahide outlet won the award just two years ago.

All the award-winners, which included the 37 finalists, were awarded certificates of ‘Merit’ or ‘Excellence’ and a Customer Service Award based on their performance.

The NOffLA Awards recognise and showcase excellence in the independent off-licence sector which represents 315 specialist businesses throughout the country. The Awards highlight those retailers offering exceptional service to customers and demonstrating excellence in retail standards.

Other awards on the night included:

• The NOffLA Best First Time Entrant 2020 – Carry Out Off-Licence “The Reeks”, Killarney
• The Peroni Food Retailer Off-Licence of the Year 2020 – Shiel’s Londis Off-Licence
• The El Coto Customer Service Award of the Year 2020 – Gibneys Off-Licence
• The Redbreast Spirit Specialist of the Year 2020 – Deveney’s of Dundrum
• The Guinness Beer Specialist of the Year 2020 – McHugh’s Malahide Road
• The Dona Paula Wine Specialist of the Year 2020 – Mitchell & Son CHQ
• The Hennessy Munster Off-Licence of the Year 2020 – Galvins Carry Out Carrigaline
• The Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin Connacht/Ulster Off-Licence of the Year 2020 – Dalys Drinks, Boyle, Co Roscommon
• The Vina Los Boldos & Finca Flichman Leinster Off-Licence of the Year 2020 – The Wine Centre, Kilkenny
• The Bombay Sapphire Dublin Off-Licence of the Year 2020 – James Redmond & Sons
• The NOffLA RTC Online Trainee of the Year 2020 – Derren Green, Molloys Liquor Store Ballyfermot
• The NOffLA Responsible Retailer of the Year 2020 – O’Donovans Off-Licence Group

Judging for the awards began in June 2019 with the ongoing judging process culminating in a blind wine tasting which involved participants answering questions about the unidentified wines. Final awards were allocated following this process.

At the event NOffLA repeated its call for all political parties to make a commitment to commence Minimum Unit Pricing as a matter of priority following the General Election.

“As socially-conscious independent retailers, NOffLA welcomed the Public Health (Alcohol) Act in 2018,” said NOffLA Chairman Gary O’Donovan speaking at the Awards, “Despite the passage of more than a year, however, we have seen little action to address the critical issue of deep discounting by supermarkets. Our members are concerned by the failure of this Government to commence Minimum Unit Pricing and the serious health risk this poses to consumers.

“In light of this fact, we’re calling on all political parties to make a clear commitment in their manifestos to immediately commence Minimum Unit Pricing and honour the spirit of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act by ending reckless alcohol retailing”.

NOffLA members have already expressed concerns regarding the scale of deep discounting by supermarkets during the Christmas period as well as the delays in commencing MUP more than 14 months since the Public Health (Alcohol) Act became law.