Drink up lads!

Jim_Hodge

it seems reduced alcohol consumption is bad for the health of the state coffers.

They'll be promoting smoking next.

Japan urges its young people to drink more to boost economy - BBC News

Leg End Reject

We have that covertly here in the guise of MUP as a health measure. Drinkers gonna drink.

Atlantic Dawn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119491237#Comment_119491237

Yes and it's causing the opposite problem for them, less disposable money for people to spend in the pubs.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119491237#Comment_119491237

MUP hands the extra price to the retailer not the state. Indeed the state is now considering revoking it cause it hurts revenue!

mazdamiatamx5

Unlike Ireland, Japan is a sensible country.

mazdamiatamx5

Why should there be any taxes on alcohol at all? The tough regulations on alcohol production should be enough. Drinkers are subsidising the teetotallers. If I'm paying through the nose for my pint or can, then the least I can expect is that the massive amounts in taxation I am paying be segregated off to pay for my increased risk (allegedly) of various types of cancers.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119491271#Comment_119491271

Like I'd want my share of Income Tax to go towards services in my area, my motor tax to improve our rural roads, my USC to maintain a local hospital and the VAT I pay to provide social projects in my community. Dream on. That's not how it works.

mazdamiatamx5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119491314#Comment_119491314

The technology exists. However, I can understand you not wanting it be followed through, as if my suggestion and yours were implemented, the services in rural areas like your own would suffer massively. Rural areas are massively subsidised by urban.

Leg End Reject

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119491252#Comment_119491252

I didn't realise that! Still, there was enough tax on alcohol before the nonsense MUP.

dxhound2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119491252#Comment_119491252

Indeed they are not.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119491597#Comment_119491597

It has been strongly proposed by the bodies that contribute to the budget as a quick and easy obvious anti-inflationary, pro-revenue measure.

It doesn't work, it has never worked anywhere else, it cuts income yet adds to inflation - but it makes a few neoprohibitionists feel good. That is all it does.

Just because you support it doesn't mean its a good idea. Its a bloody awful idea. You won't be happy if its ditched (as a stupid idea) in the budget but far more people will be happy.

For Forks Sake

..

Leg End Reject

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119491630#Comment_119491630

Fingers crossed for booze deals at Christmas.

Sorry for the C word. 😁

dxhound2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119491630#Comment_119491630

All the political parties, government and opposition support it.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119491691#Comment_119491691

I'd expect it to be replaced by a below price ban - which is what they should have done originally; and which we had before Michael Martin removed it. Would mean a ~30 quid slab not a 24 quid one.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119491708#Comment_119491708

All of them supported it when it seemed like a nice easy vote-getter

Now that its an identified inflationary measure that is sending revenue outside the state, none of them will oppose getting rid of it.

dxhound2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119491709#Comment_119491709

MUP legislation is the only way to ensure a minimum unit price. Other approaches are open to manipulation by retailers.

MEGA BRO WOLF 5000

Anyone have a link to the claim the gov are thinking of going back on MUP?

Can't see it myself.

standardg60

The only thing it affected were slab sales, which were only ever a Christmas thing anyway.

Vested interests thought it was going to bring people back to the pub, which was always nonsense as it has zero affect on the price of the six or eight pack which is the mainstay through the year.

It's up there with the 100000 prefix on imported cars which was also a vested interest introduction, which was quietly abandoned.

I remember a time, early nineties, when the price of a pint was less than twice the price of a can, that's why people were happy to go out. Now it's 3,4 and 5 times as much , and there isn't really a rational explanation why.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119491765#Comment_119491765

There is no actual reason to need a minimum unit price. It has no positive effects and many negative effects. But you've been told this on multiple threads already.

Returning the ban on below cost selling we already had and the current Taoiseach removed would cover any minor positives you may claim. The rest is just you parroting neoprohibitionist PR.

Pandering to neoprohibitionists its never justified.

Capt'n Midnight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119491237#Comment_119491237

Apart from VAT the revenue haven't collected a single cent extra from MUP. Not one single cent. And 0% of that nothing was ring-fenced for the HSE.

Excise duty hasn't increased since 2014 and thanks to inflation has actually gone down in real terms. The sugar tax has added more to the price of drinks, 20c/litre for drinks with 5-8g sugar is more than the 10c/pint.

The price increase has been trousered by the supermarkets and distributors because the stuff still costs the same amount to make.

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119491765#Comment_119491765

What positives did it's introduction produce?

dxhound2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119491715#Comment_119491715

No party has made a proposal to get rid of it. So there is nothing to oppose.