Ireland: Government plans to crack down on cheap alcohol by end of 2019
By Áine Conaty
July 1, 2019
Wine and Vodka prices are set to get a rise as the government plans to crack down on cheap booze around the country by the end of 2019.
This new measure is to target off-brand alcohols that are sold in supermarkets and off-licences.
Under this new plan off-brand, alcohol would get a pice rise of 10c per gram of alcohol.
Eunan McKinney from Alcohol Action Ireland spoke with the Irish Daily Mirror and said: “We very much welcome the moves by Government to advance minimum unit pricing and we hope they will actually bring it to fruition.
“The measure endeavours to ensure the cheapest, strongest alcohol available on the market will not be sold for less than a price that reflects the level of alcohol that’s contained in the product.”
He also added that this move is very progressive and has been implemented in a number of different places.
He said: “We significantly ride above what the average is across the EU and globally. We’re way above what a normal society would consume.
“If we can reduce alcohol consumption then we can reduce the significant levels of alcohol harms that are attached to it.”
The Sunday Independent has reported that Health Minister Simon Harris is planning to bring these new plans to the Dail before the end of the summer.
The Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland (ABFI) said in a statement to the publication: “The drinks industry is in favour of tackling the sale of cheap alcohol to reduce alcohol misuse.
“However, the Cabinet already made a decision that the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing should only be done in conjunction with Northern Ireland, which means the Cabinet would need to reverse this previous decision to now go ahead on its own.”
ABFI Director, Patricia Callan, commented: “The reason for the original Cabinet decision is that the introduction of minimum unit pricing (MUP) in the Republic of Ireland, ahead of Northern Ireland, will result in an even more dramatic price differential on alcohol products sold either side of the border and will lead to an unsustainable position for border businesses in particular.
“The Republic of Ireland already has the second highest prices for alcohol in the EU, according to the latest Eurostat report.
“As An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD, recently commented in the Dáil, we will achieve nothing if all we are to do is encourage people to cross the Border to buy alcohol in Northern Ireland.
“That does nothing for their health and it damages retailers in counties south of the Border.
“The consequences of such a policy change must also be considered in the context of the ongoing uncertainty about Brexit.
“MUP combined with a ‘no-Deal Brexit’ is likely to lead to massive exchequer losses and to a significant rise in cross-border smuggling and illicit alcohol sales.
“The Government should wait for clarity on Brexit and the reestablishment of a functioning Northern Ireland Executive before proceeding with the implementation of MUP on the island of Ireland.
“In the interim a ban on below cost selling should be introduced to tackle the sale of cheap alcohol in a quick and effective manner.
“This would ensure alcohol is not sold as a loss leader and would end the deep discounting that distorts the market.”