Terence Flanagan
Question:565. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the pricing of alcohol (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6293/14]
View answerTuesday, 11 February 2014
Questions (565)
Written answers
The Government has approved an extensive package of measures to deal with alcohol misuse, on foot of the recommendations in the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy. Legislation is being developed to provide for, inter alia, a minimum unit price for alcohol. This is a mechanism of imposing a statutory floor in price levels per gram of alcohol that must be legally observed by retailers in both the on and off trade sector.
This is a targeted measure, designed to prevent the sale of alcohol at very cheap prices. It is mainly aimed at those who are higher risk, such as adolescents and people who have a harmful and hazardous alcohol consumption pattern. It should therefore only have a marginal effect on moderate drinkers.
It is not expected that minimum unit pricing will affect the price of alcohol in the on-trade sector or the majority of alcohol products sold in the off-trade sector.
A health impact assessment, in conjunction with Northern Ireland, has been commissioned as part of the process of developing a legislative basis for minimum unit pricing. The assessment will study the impact of different minimum prices on a range of areas such as health, crime and likely economic impact. The study should be finalised by the end of Quarter 2 this year.