Tesco Ireland have warned customers that due to legal changes Clubcard points nor money-off vouchers can't be used or awarded on the purchase of alcohol.
Popular multibuy deals will also be shelved in Irish supermarkets.
These changes come as part of the rollout of Government efforts to reduce the consumption of alcohol under the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018.
The Act has been brought in gradually over the last year or so, including features like the the recent introduction of barriers to keep alcohol away from general grocery areas.
However, it will hit consumers in a more meaningful way next week.
From January 11th, three new measures will be brought in.
Alcohol sellers will be banned from selling alcohol at a lower price on the basis of the purchase of another product or service
This means deals like 'buy six bottles for €40” or “buy six and get 25 per cent off” will not be allowed.
Offering loyalty points on alcohol sales will be prohibited.
Short-term promotions of three days or less can't take place anymore.
Tesco
A Tesco Ireland spokesperson said: "Due to legal changes, from 11 January neither Clubcard points nor money-off vouchers can be used or awarded on the purchase of alcohol."
Their terms and conditions state: "Certain goods or services are excluded from all eCoupon offers.
"These include purchases of alcohol, tobacco products, milk formulae, prescription medicines and the delivery charge.
"From time to time other goods or services may be excluded and any such further exclusion will be notified to you along with the eCoupon or through the tesco.com website.
"eCoupons may be limited to redemption in respect of certain products or services or certain products or services may be excluded from the ambit of use of the eCoupon, in which case notice will be given to you at the time of issue of the eCoupon.
"Excluded goods and services will not count towards any qualifying conditions for offers and will not benefit from any promotional discount."
Dunnes Stores
Customers of Dunnes Stores popular Shop & Save promotion will have to find another way to get their total up to the required €50/€100 in order to claim their discount than the often used way of putting another bottle of wine or six pack into the trolley.
The Supermarket has added a disclaimer to receipts recently saying that the offer will exclude alcohol items from January 11th.
Supervalu
SuperValu are also telling customers that alcohol products won't qualify anymore for any incentives associated with its voucher scheme.
The amped-up national shutdown comes as infection rates skyrocket to rates never seen before, with public health chiefs warning that the Covid-19 death toll is likely to spike significantly in the coming weeks.
Pubs and restaurants have been shut since Christmas Eve after the country got a brief, boozy reprieve for the month of December.
