Palmistry Beamer (2016)
Brendan O'Regan was a visionary, which likely led to his hiring at Shannon Airport in Ireland in the 1940s. Located in Ireland’s mid-western region, the airport was a crucial refueling stop for transatlantic flights at that time. In his role as the catering controller, O'Regan soon recognized the potential to generate additional revenue by offering goods to international travelers without the addition of local taxes and duties. In short: duty-free shopping.
O'Regan made a compelling case to convince local authorities of this groundbreaking idea: On cruise ships, no one paid taxes on alcohol because they were in international waters. And what are airplanes but ships of the air?
Once the legal framework was established, the duty-free shop at Shannon Airport began operations in 1947. The success of the shop demonstrated that with the right legal and regulatory framework, duty-free shopping could be a viable and profitable venture for airports and beneficial for travelers. It set a precedent that was soon followed by other airports worldwide.
Today, most international airports offer duty-free shopping. For many travelers, it is an easy way to get cheap booze—with which, for example, they can buy a round for their friends, as suggested by British producer Benjamin Keating, known as Palmistry, on his brilliant 2016 album Pagan. “Wine’s on me if it’s duty free,” the artist sings in the bittersweet reggaeton piece “Beamer”.
Start the conversation
Become a paid member of The Rest to gain access to the comments section.