Booze 2 Go

Buying alcohol in ‘Booze 2 Go’ is a peculiar experience. The cashiers are shielded from any form of interaction by bulky bulletproof glass. The set-​up is far more reminiscent of a high security bank than an off-​license.
The drink they have to offer is presented within a display cabinet to the right of the shop with all price tags stuck to the front of the bottles. Akin to a bank or post office you drop your money into the drawer at the counter and close the cover that is then towed back to the cashier’s side. Having told them your drink order you are then passed it again through the same means of the sliding drawer with the alcohol in a paper bag. This feels very surreptitious, very ‘underground’ if not moderately corrupt. Of course it’s not and all they are doing is protecting themselves against the misconduct of abusive and light-​fingered, thieving customers prominent in the centre of Dublin but you can’t help but feel faintly nervy by the curious set up.
The drinks are cheaper than purchasing them elsewhere with a can of Bulmers priced at € 1.35. This however bodes for a narrow stockpile. When I last visited they did not sell Druids and so I was forced to go elsewhere. Booze 2 Go is definitely creditable if we’re talking about acquiring low-​priced booze, but it couldn’t give the impression of being more disreputable if it tried.
NB/​Any purchase done by credit/​laser card has to be 12 euros or over.