Loyalty Cards and New Minimum Wage Increases

14 March 2023

Loyalty Schemes on alcohol become illegal on the 6th April.

From the 6th April 2023, Licence holders will be prohibited from operating a membership (loyalty) scheme which provides rewards to its members when purchasing intoxicating liquor and allows the member to redeem the rewards to purchase intoxicating liquor at a reduced price or receive it free of charge.

Operating such a scheme carries a fine of up to £5000.

A guide to the Act is available on the Hospitality Ulster website which details each provision. For ease I have attached a link to the GUIDE.

Minimum wage rates increase from 1 April 2023

Employers should be aware that all minimum wage rates increase on 1 April of each year. This includes all National Minimum Wage rates and the National Living Wage rate. The new minimum wage rates apply to eligible workers in Northern Ireland from 1 April 2023.

Minimum wage - increased rates from April 2023

See the table below that shows the current minimum wage rates and new rates from April 2023: