You have to be impressed by the innovation.

Sam’s Gala in Dunmanway has found a rather ingenious work around of Ireland’s new minimum alcohol pricing law, which requires that a can of beer be sold for no less than €1.70 — drastically increasing prices in supermarkets across the country.

Customers at the Gala can avail of a new offer: purchase 24 plastic glasses for €30 a receive a credit note for €47.34. As it happens, €47.34 corresponds exactly to the price of a slab of Carlsberg, Bulmers or Budweiser cans. Which is quite the coincidence.

The store has noted that the credit note can be used for other items in the store, such as mop-and-bucket set.

Minimum Unit Pricing was introduced in Ireland last week and the measure has faced accusations that it is a regressive policy that disproportionately affects households who struggle to afford their shopping in the first place.

Last week, Sam’s Gala posted a rebuke of the law on their Facebook page, writing: “It goes against everything that every Retailer in the country spends their time trying to avoid, and that’s increasing prices.

“While there’s very little change across the wines and spirits range, the increase in the price of slabs of beer is astronomical with some going from €25 to €45.45 and from €29 to €47.34.”

Remember to drink responsibly.