Written answers
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Department of Health
Liquor Licensing Laws
9:00 pm
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour)
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Question 606: To ask the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a ban on below-cost selling of alcohol along the lines of similar actions taken in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34457/11]
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I assume that the Deputy's question refers to a minimum price for alcohol. Minimum pricing is a mechanism of imposing a statutory floor in price levels for alcohol products that must be legally observed by retailers; its primary function would be to discourage high-risk levels of alcohol consumption.
A National Substance Misuse Strategy Steering Group was established in 2009. It is examining the development of policy to deal with a wide range of key issues relating to the supply, pricing, availability and marketing of alcohol - including the question of a minimum price for alcohol - along with measures for the policy areas of prevention strategies, treatment, rehabilitation and substance dependency, research and information.
The report of the Steering Group is close to completion; I expect to receive proposals in the coming months and I will then brief my colleagues in Government on these. In the meantime, I will not pre-empt the work of the group.
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