Explainer: What is minimum unit pricing and will it majorly affect alcohol prices in Ireland?
Minimum unit pricing may be commenced as soon as possible in Ireland. Image: Shutterstock/Africa Studio Minimum unit pricing may be commenced as soon as possible in Ireland. Image: Shutterstock/Africa Studio A SET PRICE for alcohol is being pushed forward by Minister for Health Simon Harris “as soon as possible” after data was released last month about minimum unit pricing in Scotland.
A standard drink is half a pint of beer/lager/stout, a small 100ml glass of wine or a pub measure of spirits. This might sound cheap, but most drinks are marked up in price for retailers and pubs/clubs so it will mainly affect very cheap drinks with strong alcohol content.The Public Health Act was brought in last October with a timeline set out for when different sections would commence over the next few years.
In Ireland, minimum unit pricing and other sections of the 2018 Act need a separate government decision to commence, which is why it hasn’t started yet despite being signed into law. The Minister for Health Simon Harris is intending to seek a revised government decision to allow minimum pricing to commence here as soon as possible, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Health.
These harms and costs include cases of alcohol-attributed deaths, liver disease, breast cancer and other issues, according to the spokesperson.In 2018, Scotland became the first country in the EU to bring in minimum unit pricing. Data reported in June showed that consumption levels of alcohol had dropped to the lowest level since records began in the early 1990s.
The HSE low-risk guidelines from drinkaware.ie for women are 11 standard drinks over the course of a week, with at least two alcohol-free days.The evidence base for introducing minimum unit pricing in Ireland is analysis carried out by the University of Sheffield in England, which has the same low-risk drinking levels.
Tesco’s Windsor Castle London Dry Gin 700ml will rise by €4.72. Linden Village Cider will also see an increase of €2.89, rising from €5 to €7.89.Cheaper beers such as Dutch Gold will increase by 45c per can in an 8 pack. Tesco lager will see an increase of 6c per can. More known brands like Guinness, Heineken and Bulmers will see no price change.The Act also includes new restrictions on advertising and selling alcohol products.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘I’m here because I am human’: Voices from the Trans Pride march‘Days like today are so important because people need to be out and visible’
Read more »
Katie Price's son Harvey 'sent abuse from cops' as police probe launchedEXCLUSIVE: Embittered mum-of-five Katie Price is sick to the back teeth of people making her severely disabled son Harvey the butt of sick jokes
Read more »