It is “not OK and not healthy” that some supermarkets are currently selling alcohol “cheaper than they are selling water”, according to the Minister for Health.
Stephen Donnelly insisted minimum unit pricing for alcohol is being introduced “because there is powerful evidence this works”.
Speaking at the official launch of the policy in Dublin on Tuesday, Mr Donnelly said there is alcohol-related mortality of more than 1,000 people a year, while international analysis estimated there were 2,700 deaths attributable to alcohol in Ireland in 2016.
He said the number of hospitalisations wholly attributable to alcohol doubled between 1995 and 2018.
1 comment:
Michael,
While I agree that alcohol is an issue for some people in Ireland, this is no excuse to take a slap-every-child-in-the-class approach. A letter writer to the Irish Times on May 6th put it very well: "It is beyond ridiculous that increased revenue from minimum pricing will go to the drinks industry and not the State. In particular, given that much of this extra money will come from problem drinkers who have difficulty accessing appropriate services."
It is beyond extraordinary that a Minister fore Health would stand over this proposal. Why is this revenue going to an already bloated industry? Would it not be easier just to have an additional tax measure to do the same, if that is what is needed. A wider public debate on the issue of alcohol pricing should take place instead of government by soundbite.
Michael
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