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January 2012 - Enovation Solutions were invited to present an award for the Online Trainee of the Year at the National Off-Licence Assocation of Ireland annual awards ceremony which took place in the Society of Kings Inns in Dublin. We are delighted to have helped NOffLA implement this online training course using the Moodle Learning Management System.
The RTC programme is recognised as the first of its type in any market in Europe, where traditional off-licences operate. It is also the first programme to provide specialised online training resulting in formal certification for management and staff retailing alcohol in Ireland.
The full text of the press release follows.
PRESS RELEASE
10 January 2012
NOffLA Supports Government’s Plans for the Minimum Pricing of Alcohol
The National Off-Licence Association of Ireland (NOffLA) welcomes recommendations made by Minister of State for Health, Roisín Shortall TD, to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol in Ireland.
NOffLA held their sixteenth annual awards ceremony in the Society of Kings Inn, Dublin, last night (9 January) to recognise members’ outstanding contributions to the responsible retail of alcohol in Ireland.
Speaking at the ceremony, NOffLA Chairperson Evelyn Jones said, “We welcome the recommendations made by Minister of State for Health, Roisin Shortall to introduce a minimum price floor for alcohol in Ireland.
“We believe this is a step in the right direction to solving Ireland’s alcohol problems as it will deter the retailing of cheap, non-branded alcohol, as well as curbing the severe problem of underage drinking.
“Minimum pricing will not however deter the retailing of discounted branded products because the minimum values will be too low and we call on Government to go further and also introduce a ban on below cost selling which will ensure the retailing of alcohol at below invoice cost price does not take place.”
NOffLA, which represents independent community-based specialist off-licences across Ireland, has gone to great lengths in recent years to ensure their members promote and facilitate the responsible retail of alcohol.
“Retailers have a huge part to play in countering the ill-effects of alcohol; particularly on our young people and this is why NOffLA introduced the Responsible Trading Certificate (RTC) Programme for the retail of alcohol in Ireland”, said Evelyn Jones.
This year, NOffLA has added two prestigious awards to its presentations to recognise the successful launch of the on-line module of the Responsible Trading Certificate (RTC) Programme. The RTC programme was launched by NOffLA as a professional accreditation initiative to enhance staff training for those selling alcohol.
“The RTC programme is recognised as the first of its type in any market in Europe, where traditional off-licences operate. It is also the first programme to provide specialised online training resulting in formal certification for management and staff retailing alcohol in Ireland”, said Evelyn Jones.
O’Brien’s Carry Out Off-Licence scooped the award of ‘Responsible Retailer of the Year’, having fully trained all its staff members and fulfilled the strict criteria of an ‘RTC Accredited’ outlet.
Rachel Rowan of Mulhall’s Londis, Portlaois was awarded ‘On-line Trainee of the Year’ by Enovation Solutions Ltd (e-learning specialists who provide support for the RTC on-line training module).
Gary Mahon of Enovation Solutions said, “We are delighted to be part of this progressive initiative and congratulate the National Off-Licence Association on being the first in their industry to introduce an e-learning module of their training programme into the Irish marketplace”.
Speaking at the awards, Evelyn Jones said, “For ten years, NOffLA has called on the Government to introduce mandatory training for the retail of alcohol in Ireland, which would be a fundamental step towards dealing with alcohol related problems in this country.
“The Government’s failure to introduce mandatory staff training as a practical step to prevent alcohol misuse in Ireland has disappointed our Association, and we hope to see change on this point in 2012”
