Minimum unit pricing of alcohol will increase the cost of living for young people and workers who consume lower cost alcohol, while protecting publicans from low prices elsewhere.
This is the view of People Before Profit Galway representative, Adrian Curran, who was reacting to the Government’s introduction of the new pricing measures which came into effect on January 4.
Mr Curran noted that the price increases only affect the cheapest off-licence sales of beers, wine, and spirits, and called it “a desperate measure which will redistribute wealth from working class people to retailers”.
'Prohibition does not work'
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Minimum unit pricing for alcohol will see a minimum cost limit of €0.10c per gram for all alcoholic beverages. The minimum price for a 12.5 per cent bottle of wine, for example, will rise to €7.40, whilst the minimum price for a slab of Budweiser cans will rise to €40.76.
Mr Curran said this will “push up” the cost of living for young people and workers who “consume lower cost alcohol”, while at the same time “having no impact on more expensive beverages”.
PBP Galway is calling on the Government to instead create a public health education campaign to reduce alcohol consumption. “Prohibition does not work, regardless of its intentions,” said Mr Curran. “Pricing people out of alcohol will see an increase in the importation of alcohol from the North, and a rise in those turning to harder substances.”
