Minimum unit pricing of alcohol comes into effect

Published: Tue 4 Jan 2022, 5:43 PM

Last updated: Tue 4 Jan 2022, 5:47 PM

The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly and the Minister for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy, Frank Feighan have welcomed minimum unit pricing on retail alcohol sales which came into force today.

Ireland is now one of only a small number of countries in the world to introduce minimum pricing. Scotland was the first in Europe to introduce it in 2018 followed by Wales in 2020. Other countries and territories which already have a legal minimum price include the Russian Federation and regions in Australia and Canada.

A minimum unit price of 10c per gram of alcohol is provided for in section 11 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018. Minimum unit pricing will set a floor price beneath which alcohol cannot legally be sold and will target products that are cheap relative to their strength. The minimum price is determined by and is directly proportionate to the amount of pure alcohol in the drink.

The move is expected to impact more on alcohol sold in supermarkets and off licences, rather than pubs, restaurants and night clubs.

It will mean an average bottle of wine cannot be sold for under €7.40, while a can of beer will cost at least €1.70.

Spirits will see the biggest jump in price, with vodka and gin set to cost a minimum of €20.70, while whiskey will rise to at least €22.

We welcome the introduction of minimum unit pricing on alcohol from 4th Jan. This will prevent strong alcohol from being sold at low prices. Alcohol is a major cause of illness and disease, hospitalisations, self-harm and violence in Ireland. Helpline no. below. #AskAboutAlcohol pic.twitter.com/0sevrOqZMR
— HSE Health & Wellbeing (@HsehealthW) January 3, 2022

Section 11 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act on Minimum Unit Pricing is a major provision of the Act which is designed to reduce the harms caused by the misuse of alcohol and to delay the initiation of alcohol consumption by children and young people.

Minister Donnelly said: “Today Ireland joins a small number of countries in the world to introduce minimum pricing. This measure is designed to reduce serious illness and death from alcohol consumption and to reduce the pressure on our health services from alcohol related conditions. It worked in Scotland and I look forward to it working here.”

Minister Feighan said: “We are taking this action to ensure that cheap strong alcohol is not available to children and young people at 'pocket money' prices and to help those who drink to harmful levels to reduce their intake. I am proud that Ireland is among the first countries in the world to introduce this measure and to take real action to help those who need it the most.”