asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the profit margins involved in the production and sale of non-alcoholic drinks; whether these margins are too high; if they are encouraging young people to drink alcohol; and whether he has any proposals to deal with the problem.
Written Answers. - Non-Alcoholic Drinks.
37.
The Deputy will be aware that detailed procedures requiring approval of price increases have been allowed to lapse. Accordingly no information is available to me on current profit margins in the production and sale of non-alcoholic drinks. I am satisfied that given the wide variety of such drinks and the number and diversity of outlets where they may be obtained there is no reason why concerned consumers cannot satisfy their requirements at reasonable prices.
The question of whether people buy soft drinks or alcoholic drinks is a matter of personal choice and is not an area where I could intervene.