If you've ever wondered what treats are popular with the incarcerated guests of the government, then wonder no longer — for a survey has revealed the top prison tuck shop favourites.
Twelve jails have responded to a survey that looks at the shopping habits of prisoners — and found that inmates liked to take a break with Toffypops and Lyons Tea, according to sales in the league of jailhouse tuck.
The figures became available after a new stock management and point-of-sale system was set up in every detention facility last year, at a cost of €170,565. For the first time it meant the spending habits of prisoners could be tracked.
Data from the system showed inmates spent €675,997 every month on average in prison tuck shops on products including soft drinks, chocolate, toiletries and even games consoles — that's more than €8million a year. Each month an average of €271,318 was spent on tobacco and cigarettes, taking up 40 per cent of the sales.
Inmates also spent an average of €28,211 a month on vaping products, according to an article published online by the Irish Mirror. These were particularly popular in the Dóchas Centre for female offenders in Dublin, where one in every four euros went on e-cigarette kits and liquids.
The country’s busiest tuck shop was Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, where sales of €500,814 were recorded during a period of less than four months between the beginning of last August and November 25. Sales reports showed a preference for Lyons Tea over Barry’s, with inmates purchasing 245,281 bags of Dublin-based Lyons brand compared with 159,920 of Cork-based Barry’s.
The latter was more popular in Munster, outselling Lyons by almost three to one in Cork Prison. In Limerick, it beat the rival brand by a comfortable margin. Toffypops were the most popular biscuits, with 17,028 packs sold.
A previous survey conducted in 2015 found other unusual items popular among the inside population, including Hello Kitty chocolate eggs, Bear in the Big Blue House corn snacks, and even One Direction lunchboxes. Pampers nappies were also popular at the tuck shops.
The Irish Prison Service said profits from tuck shop sales were used to support inmates through the Prisoner Assist Programme Fund, hardship payments, and other services.
Read next:
Man charged with armed robbery after frightening knifepoint theft in inner city
Man stabbed to death in Finglas named locally as gardai probe drugs angle
Duo arrested after man dies in fatal stabbing at Dublin home
Dublin communities condemn 'hateful' anti-refugee demonstrations outside hotels
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
