Drinking from home is about to get a lot more expensive.
We’ve been given plenty of warning it was coming and now we have a clearer idea of just how much we’re going to have to pay for alcohol outside of licensed premises in the near future.
Health Minister Leo Varadkar was yesterday granted approval for the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015, which will set a minimum price for drink sales in Ireland.
According to the Irish Independent, the Department of Health are looking into introducing a minimum price of between 9-11 cents per gram of alcohol, which will have a pretty big impact on the price we pay for drink outside of licensed premises.
If the cost was set at nine cents per gram, for example, customers would be looking at paying a minimum of €1.80 for a can of beer and €7.20 for a bottle of wine.
If it was 11 cents per gram, those prices would rise to €2.20 and €8.80 respectively.
Commenting on the proposed legislation, which is due to be introduced in the summer, Minister Varadkar said: “The days of 15 cans or bottles of beer being sold for €15 is of the past.
“Most Irish adults drink too much and many drink dangerously.”
“This has an enormous impact on our society and economy through greater illness and higher health costs, public order and violent offences, road traffic collisions, injuries and absence from work.
“It is also associated with many suicides and instances of sexual violence, domestic violence and child harm. The time for debate is over, we have had four years of it now. It is over and we need to put those measures into place.”
For more on the impact of the legislation, including its potential effects on advertising and sponsorship of sporting events, you can read the Irish Independent report in full here.
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