Roisín Shortall looks to pricing and advertising restrictions
It’s believed that the minimum price of the cheapest cans of beer will double and that several €uro will be added to the price of own-label vodka in an attempt to take alcohol out of the “pocket money” prices category.
If successfully introduced, minimum pricing will form part of a national substance misuse strategy which is due to be published soon as a result of the work of the national steering group on alcohol abuse.
If implemented, minimum pricing would ensure that off-licences and supermarkets are prohibited from selling beer, wine and spirits below a set price.
?The Junior Health Minister is also understood to be considering other restrictions on alcohol advertising and price promotions.
However ABFI has urged the re-introduction of below-cost selling as an alternative to minimum pricing which may face opposition from the EU.
Junior Health Minister Roisín Shortall hopes to address the issue of cheap alcohol by including minimum pricing in a Public Health Bill to be announced presently.
