Galway is home to a thriving business community, and cafes in the Galway City area and beyond are no exception. But many don’t realise the extent of their GDPR obligations — particularly around loyalty app or stamp card schemes collecting customer purchase history and personal details without adequate privacy notices. This guide breaks down exactly what’s required under Irish and EU data protection law.
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Absolutely. Under the GDPR and the Irish Data Protection Act 2018, all cafes in Galway that collect, store, or process personal data must be fully compliant. This covers everything from booking details and payment information to CCTV footage and staff records. The DPC can impose fines of up to €20 million for non-compliance, and Irish businesses of all sizes are subject to enforcement.
RISK ASSESSMENT
Loyalty app or stamp card schemes collecting customer purchase history and personal details without adequate privacy notices
Free Wi-Fi capturing customer device data and browsing information without informed consent
Customer allergen records kept informally on sticky notes or shared kitchen noticeboards
Employee rotas and personal contact details shared via unsecured WhatsApp groups
Social media competitions collecting personal data without clear terms or a privacy notice
DATA INVENTORY
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REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Every Cafe in Ireland needs these documents to demonstrate GDPR compliance.
STEP BY STEP
Review loyalty programme data collection to ensure customers receive a clear privacy notice explaining how their data will be used.
Audit Wi-Fi services to confirm that login portals include a privacy notice and do not collect excessive personal data.
Formalise allergen record-keeping so that customer dietary information is stored securely and accessible only to relevant staff.
Ensure employee communications use secure channels rather than personal messaging apps for sharing rotas and personal information.
Set up a data retention schedule and regularly delete old loyalty records, CCTV footage, and employee data no longer needed.
Train all staff on basic GDPR awareness, including how to respond if a customer asks what data the cafe holds about them.
COMMON PITFALLS
Running social media competitions that collect personal data without informing entrants how their data will be used or stored.
Keeping loyalty programme records indefinitely rather than deleting inactive accounts after a reasonable period.
Sharing employee shift rotas containing personal phone numbers and addresses in unsecured group chats.
Failing to display CCTV signage, particularly in smaller premises where cameras may be less obvious to customers.
FAQ
Everything you need to know about GDPR compliance for your business.
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Every day your Cafe in Galway operates without proper GDPR compliance is a risk. The DPC is increasing enforcement across Ireland — get ahead of it today.
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