A leaked memo due to be brought before Cabinet has shown the Government's intentions to introduce a set minimum price of 10 cent per gram of alcohol.The legislation would be introduced under Section 11 of the Public Health Alcohol Act and would see an increase in the cost of"cheap alcohol", including beer, wine, and spirits.Minimum unit pricing is a “floor price” for which alcohol cannot legally be sold and is based on the amount of alcohol in a product, measured in grammes.
One standard drink in Ireland contains 10 grammes of alcohol and an MUP would apply per standard drink.According to the memo, the new legislation would see a minimum price of €1.32 introduced on a 440ml can of lager, a €7.75 minimum on a 750ml bottle of chardonnay, and a €20.71 charge on a 700ml bottle of gin or vodka.
Supermarket brands such as Tesco’s own-brand vodka is also expected to price from around €12.99 to €20.71, with a similar-sized bottle of gin set to go up in price from €14.25 to €20.71 and a €3.99 bottle of wine increasing in cost to €6.50.