Boost For Border Traders As Budget Targets Booze

This week's UK Budget is being welcomed by border traders in the Irish Republic.

Retailers close to the land frontier in towns such as Dundalk have been badly affected by the long-running boom in cross-border shopping, but now the Westminster Budget could be offering a glimmer of hope.

Dundalk has already suffered significantly from the north-bound exodus which began before Christmas.

The supermarket Superquinn, have already shut up shop in Dundalk as many locals opt to do their grocery shopping north of the border.

Now, the rise in booze prices in Northern Ireland is offering a modest fillip for southern traders.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph this week, Bill Tosh, Chief Executive of the town's chamber of commerce, said the rise in alcohol duty announced in this week's Budget would affect the regular trips made by residents in the Irish Republic to load up on alcohol north of the border, where it is significantly cheaper.

"It will have a serious impact on the draw of alcohol, which really is one of the big attractions north of the border."

Mr Tosh feels the stringent Budget gives the UK a slight 'taste of the medicine' doled out in the Republic, still smarting from a punishing emergency Budget announced by Iirsh Finance Minister Brian Lenihan earlier this month.

See: Budget 2009: Top Earners To Be Taxed Up To 50%

(BMcC/JM)