Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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168. To ask the Minister for Health if she will review the impact of the minimum unit pricing policy on alcohol since its introduction, in light of recent data from the Health Research Board showing an increase in alcohol treatment cases in 2024; if she will examine whether the policy has met its public health objectives; if she will consider options to ensure that revenue linked to alcohol pricing policy is directed towards addiction treatment and mental health services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57442/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Minimum unit pricing (MUP) came into operation in January 2022. The Public Health (Alcohol) Act provides that the Minister may, by order, increase the minimum price per gram of alcohol no earlier than 3 years after commencement. The Act specifies that the Minister must take into account any expert research available on the effectiveness of the measure as well as have regard to criteria set out at section 11(5) of the Act.

In November 2024, the Alcohol Act Technical Evaluation Group (AATEG) was established to evaluate the provisions of the Public Heath (Alcohol) Act 2018, including MUP, and is required to submit an interim report on its progress to me by the early 2026.

Minimum unit pricing is a public health measure. It prohibits the sale of an alcohol product below the “floor price” of 10c per gram of alcohol in order to reduce the availability of cheap strong alcohol for all of our population and, in particular, to keep strong alcohol out of the price range of our children.