Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue on behalf of businesses along the Border and I will take his points back to the Minister for Health. A minimum price unit of 10 cent is likely to affect the price of only a small proportion of products in any off-licence. The aim of minimum unit pricing is to target harmful drinkers - those who drink so much that they are putting their health in danger. The measure is targeted and attempts to minimise the impact on moderate drinkers. The minimum price will make little difference to those who only drink low or moderate amounts of alcohol.

Minimum unit pricing will target cheaper alcohol relative to strength because the price is determined by, and is directly proportional to, the volume of pure alcohol in a drink. Effectively, the price of alcohol products will depend on their strength. In view of this, it is the Minister's intention to seek a revised Government decision to implement minimum unit pricing of alcohol as soon as possible to address the significant health harms and financial costs of alcohol consumption.

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