Minimum alcohol pricing law could drive cross-border sales surge
The introduction of minimum unit pricing on alcohol in the Republic could prompt a surge in cross-border shoppers seeking “cheaper booze”, it has been warned.
The new law, which came into effect on January 4, will apply to alcohol sold in off licences, shops and supermarkets.
A bottle of wine can now not be sold for less than €7.40 (£6.40) and a can of beer for less than €1.70 (£1.40)
Spirits with 40% alcohol content cannot be sold for less than €20.70 (£17.30) and a 700 ml bottle of whiskey for less than €22. (£18.40)
The move has again prompted calls for Stormont to follow suit. Scotland brought in minimum unit pricing in 2018, while Wales introduced a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol in 2020.
The Department of Health here said it would launch a consultation on the idea in “early 2022”.
A spokeswoman said: “The introduction of legislation for minimum unit pricing for alcohol has the potential to be a key population-level health measure to address the harms related to alcohol consumption.
“To this end, an action was included within the new substance use strategy, ‘Preventing Harm, Empowering Recovery’, to launch a consultation on MUP.
“Work on developing this consultation is ongoing and, while the commitment was to undertake the consultation within one year of the strategy’s launch, it is anticipated that the consultation will issue in early 2022.”
Tommy Canning, who runs the Northlands alcohol addiction treatment centre in Derry told BBC Radio Foyle: “It throws up the issue of decisions that are made around health on one side of the border and the implications that they have on the other.
“We welcome it in the round, although I would caveat that with that on its own minimum unit pricing isn’t a panacea for the damage and devastation that we see.
“This is only one part of the puzzle to help relieve and reduce alcoholism on the island of Ireland.”
