December 8, 2024

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News for criminal justice students

Alcohol price controls will boost health, help hospitals and save lives

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Minimum unit pricing (MUP), a central pillar of Ireland’s public health approach to reducing alcohol use across society, comes into effect on January 4th.

This measure addresses the widespread availability of exceptionally cheap, strong alcohol throughout the retail sector. It aims to reduce the levels of alcohol use, especially among the heaviest drinkers and younger people who are most likely to consume cheap forms of strong alcohol.

Minimum unit pricing, as set out in the Public Health Alcohol Act (2018), is a means of establishing a mandatory floor price per unit of alcohol, ensuring that alcohol products cannot be sold beneath a certain cost to the public. Unlike increasing taxation, which affects the price of all alcohol products in retail and hospitality sectors, MUP addresses the price of only the cheapest, strongest alcohol, almost exclusively in the retail sector.

Prof Frank Murray, incoming president of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Photograph: Fergal Phillips
Prof Frank Murray is chair of Alcohol Health Alliance Ireland. Photograph: Fergal Phillips

In Ireland, one standard drink in Ireland contains 10 grammes of alcohol. The minimum price for one standard drink will now be €1. Most alcoholic drinks are already above this, especially in pubs, clubs and restaurants, according to the Health Service Executive.

A pub measure of spirits (35.5ml), a small glass of wine (12.5 per cent volume), and a half pint of normal beer are all standard drinks.

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