Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 November 2016
125. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the status of discussions with his counterparts in Northern Ireland on the introduction of minimum unit pricing there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33106/16]
View answerMinimum Unit Pricing (MUP) is one of a package of measures to be implemented in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. MUP sets a minimum price per gram of alcohol, where the minimum price is based on the number of grams of alcohol in the product. This is a targeted measure, aimed at those who drink in a harmful and hazardous manner, and designed to prevent the sale of alcohol at very cheap prices. MUP is able to target cheaper alcohol relative to its strength because the minimum price is determined by and is directly proportional to the amount of pure alcohol in the drink.
My Department is in contact with its counterparts in the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on the matter. MUP is one of the issues which will be discussed at the upcoming North South Ministerial Council.
