Ministers have approved the introduction of minimum unit pricing for alcohol.
Frank Feighan is the Minister of State at the Department of Health.
He says it will ensure that cheap strong drink is not available at what he calls 'pocket money' prices.
The lead in time for the measure is January 2022.
I am delighted to learn that the Cabinet have just approved my recommendation to Minister @DonnellyStephen on the need commence Minimum Unit Pricing in Ireland as enacted in Section 11 of the Public Health Alcohol Act 2018. @LeoVaradkar @SimonHarrisTD @roinnslainte @FineGael #MUP
— Frank Feighan T.D. (@FrankFeighan) May 4, 2021
To Target Cheap, Strong, Alcohol - Minister
Mr Feighan says today's news is very positive.
"I very much welcome this, it's a public health initiative."
"It targets harmful drinkers who buy cheap drink."
He continued to say that modelling from Scotland show that this impacts "high risk, heavy drinkers."
So that's because "they purchase strong, cheap alcohol products."
