Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on the below cost selling of alcohol in off-licences that is widely consumed by young persons; if she will initiate public health measures to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20365/10]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Below-cost selling of alcohol products was one of the areas examined by the Government Alcohol Advisory Group in 2008. However, due to the complex pricing systems which it encountered during its examination of the issue, the Group was unable to establish any standard costs for the purposes of prohibiting below-cost sales of such products. On 31st March, 2009 the Government agreed to include alcohol in a National Substance Misuse Strategy that would be co-ordinated jointly by the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs and my Department. A Steering Group has been established to develop the alcohol element of the National Substance Misuse Strategy. It will base its recommendations on evidence based measures to deal with the significant public health issue of alcohol in areas such as supply, pricing, prevention, treatment, awareness and education. The Steering Group is currently meeting on a monthly basis and it is expected that its Report will be submitted to Government by the end of this year.