Minimum alcohol pricing is nigh

Ohmeha · 30-06-2019 07:00PM

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

Main headline in Sunday Independent today. I can't understand why the Gov are doing this when probably 85% of the population are against it. Who do they think they are? It'll surely lose them votes. I know it's probably to help pubs but this level of Nanny Statism is just shocking. I already wrote to my TDs telling them they've lost my vote (not that I'd vote for them anyway) and I suggest you to do same if you have a problem with this ridiculous legislation.

I hate the Sindo and Philip Ryan in today's article peddling this propaganda on behalf of FG by repeatedly quoting the follow lies:

"CHEAP ALCOHOL"
"BARGAIN BASEMENT"
"LOW PRICED-ALCOHOL"
"CHEAP DRINKS"

Absolutely laughable, absolute liars, 2nd highest alcohol prices in the fkn EU 177% above the average

elperello · 30-06-2019 08:19PM

odyssey06 wrote: »

About €1.70 for a 500ml can.

The actual price won't be known until they publish the regs so there is still some hope they will fudge it.

Of course whatever is decided it will also mean the end of price competition and the use of vouchers.

odyssey06 · 30-06-2019 08:32PM

elperello wrote: »

The actual price won't be known until they publish the regs so there is still some hope they will fudge it.
Of course whatever is decided it will also mean the end of price competition and the use of vouchers.

I was going on the indicative price in the Sindo but as you say its uncertain.

On the competition front its going to close off almost all the bargains. Except maybe bottle of wine in meal deal as the overall cost will be over the limit.

Darc19 · 30-06-2019 08:45PM

I disagree, the "drinking problems" are myths from the government.

Ohmeha wrote: »

I hate the Sindo and Philip Ryan in today's article peddling this propaganda on behalf of FG by repeatedly quoting the follow lies:

"CHEAP ALCOHOL"
"BARGAIN BASEMENT"
"LOW PRICED-ALCOHOL"
"CHEAP DRINKS"

Absolutely laughable, absolute liars, 2nd highest alcohol prices in the fkn EU 177% above the average

Those surveys don't use the promotional prices. Hence the survey prices will not change and the level above eu average will stay the same.

We have a phenomenal drink problem in this country and a lot of it is caused by below cost promotion pricing.

odyssey06 · 30-06-2019 08:50PM

Darc19 wrote: »

We have a phenomenal drink problem in this country and a lot of it is caused by below cost promotion pricing.

This makes no sense.
Have you ever been to a French supermarket? Or Italian?
Their rrps are lower than our promotion pricing on wine and spirits.

Whatever problems we have have nothing to do with promotional pricing in Irish supermarkets.

JCX BXC · 30-06-2019 08:51PM

Darc19 wrote: »

We have a phenomenal drink problem in this country and a lot of it is caused by below cost promotion pricing.

What?

So this measure will solve our crisis? Many alcoholics at the moment have no problem paying pub prices, students will continue to drink in excess, the alcoholics on the street only go for the cheapest alcohol, which this measure could hypothetically help (could cause other issied), but it's not price promotion that causes this, this alcohol is always as cheap.

wonga77 · 30-06-2019 09:19PM

I disagree, the "drinking problems" are myths from the government.

Didn't see the sindo article today, did they give a date this might happen or is it still something down the line?

elperello · 30-06-2019 09:23PM

I don't buy this line that "we" have a drink problem.

For sure some people have a drink problem.

I don't drink too much and I fail to see how me paying more for my beer etc. is going to help problem drinkers.

In my experience over indulgence in drink is the result of complex social and cultural issues.

Leroy42 · 30-06-2019 09:39PM

The very fact that we have such high prices compared to other European countries and yet we still continue to consume high levels would point to a drink problem.

30-06-2019 09:42PM

wonga77 wrote: »

Didn't see the sindo article today, did they give a date this might happen or is it still something down the line?

I thought the whole concept of minimum pricing was knocked on the head ages ago when Scotland (I think?) tried to implement it, and the EU said 'lol no'?

Spanish Eyes · 30-06-2019 09:45PM

Leroy42 wrote: »

The very fact that we have such high prices compared to other European countries and yet we still continue to consume high levels would point to a drink problem.

Is it any wonder. This country needs an anaesthetic now and then

However being realistic, other European countries will not tolerate the drunken madness that can happen here. It is just not accepted. Ever.

Maybe if there was a zero tolerance for public drunkenness in our towns and cities things might be a bit more tolerant. But that involves Gardai I suppose.

So scratch that. Easier to pretend that higher prices will result in improved behaviour. Yep.

elperello · 30-06-2019 09:47PM

Deleted User wrote: »

I thought the whole concept of minimum pricing was knocked on the head ages ago when Scotland (I think?) tried to implement it, and the EU said 'lol no'?

That was a while back.
MUP has since been introduced in Scotland.

Spanish Eyes · 30-06-2019 09:49PM

elperello wrote: »

That was a while back.
MUP has since been introduced in Scotland.

What about NI? I doubt this country will implement it without the same regime up North really.

Padraig Mor · 30-06-2019 09:49PM

Darc19 wrote: »

We have a phenomenal drink problem in this country and a lot of it is caused by below cost promotion pricing.

Below cost selling of alcohol is very rare in this country, despite what the vintners lobbyists claim. But, for the sake of argument, if we accepted that below cost selling was common.......why not just ban that? Why the convoluted MUP nonsense?

elperello · 30-06-2019 09:53PM

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

What about NI? I doubt this country will implement it without the same regime up North really.

Not in NI yet but likely when Stormont gets going again.

Seems a bit hard on border county off licences and shops to introduce MUP. People will certainly go North for the drink and buy the rest of their groceries while they are at it.

Spanish Eyes · 30-06-2019 10:05PM

elperello wrote: »

Not in NI yet but likely when Stormont gets going again.

Seems a bit hard on border county off licences and shops to introduce MUP. People will certainly go North for the drink and buy the rest of their groceries while they are at it.

Dream on regarding the NI Assembly. I think we will be ok so!

wonga77 · 30-06-2019 10:17PM

I disagree, the "drinking problems" are myths from the government.

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Below cost selling of alcohol is very rare in this country, despite what the vintners lobbyists claim. But, for the sake of argument, if we accepted that below cost selling was common.......why not just ban that? Why the convoluted MUP nonsense?

Sure last xmas you could buy certain drinks for crazy low prices in tesco, aldi, supervalu etc. Thats where the real problem is, buying bottles of bushmills for a tenner etc was only drawing attention to the dam thing

ToddyDoody · 30-06-2019 10:27PM

Who cares, it's only booze.

runawaybishop · 30-06-2019 10:43PM

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

They will, and they are. Leo talks about it in a bragging fashion, it's bizarre. I heard him the other day talk about how we are being world leaders by doing this just like we were with the smoking ban.
I really don't think this is just down to trying to satisfy publicans, surely there's more to it than that? I mean any poll I've seen is almost unanimously against it, so why force it on a public that doesn't want it? I wish someone could ask politicians in favour of it this question.

No need to ask anyone, it was in their previous manifesto. Note there is no mention about health, that's something varadker is spinning now. This is all about forcing people to spend money in pubs.

Supporting Irish Pubs: Fine Gael recognises the importance of the Irish pub for tourism, rural jobs and as
a social outlet in communities across the country. We will support the local pub by banning the practice
of below cost selling on alcohol, particularly by large supermarkets and the impact this has had on alcohol
consumption and the viability of pubs.

dartboardio · 30-06-2019 10:44PM

Aww bless.

The government disguising another money making racket as 'caring for the people of Ireland'

Just another bright idea to make more money from us while pretending to care about an issue

Makes me sick to be honest. In other countries, selling the same heineken bottles we have, however at a fraction of the price and almost 1% stronger.

Geuze · 30-06-2019 10:53PM

dartboardio wrote: »

Aww bless.

The government disguising another money making racket as 'caring for the people of Ireland'

Just another bright idea to make more money from us while pretending to care about an issue

Makes me sick to be honest. In other countries, selling the same heineken bottles we have, however at a fraction of the price and almost 1% stronger.

It won't make much extra taxes for the Govt.

It makes more profits for retailer / supplier.

rob316 · 01-07-2019 01:39AM

God bless any business selling alcohol on the republic side around the border. You might aswell turn your wine into water it'll sell better.

rob316 · 01-07-2019 01:41AM

dartboardio wrote: »

Aww bless.

The government disguising another money making racket as 'caring for the people of Ireland'

Just another bright idea to make more money from us while pretending to care about an issue

Makes me sick to be honest. In other countries, selling the same heineken bottles we have, however at a fraction of the price and almost 1% stronger.

If anything sales will fall leading to lower excise and vat take.

The winners here are the VFI no one else really

Leroy42 · 01-07-2019 07:14AM

Not sure the vintners will in anything out of this, although I can fully appreciate that they think it might.

Increasing price of a can of Bud from €1 to €2 still leaves a massive price gap to a pint in a pub. If people are drinking at home to save money, why would they suddenly abandon that?

Of course drinking at home, andctge decline in pubs, is not just about price. Smoking ban, drink driving enforcement, lack of transport options particularly outside Dublin.

None of these go away simply because the iffy prices go up.

This seems to mainly help the big brands as it destroys the ability to compete on price.

odyssey06 · 01-07-2019 07:17AM

Leroy42 wrote: »

Not sure the vintners will in anything out of this, although I can fully appreciate that they think it might. Increasing price of a can of Bud from €1 to €2 still leaves a massive price gap to a pint in a pub. If people are drinking at home to save money, why would they suddenly abandon that?
... This seems to mainly help the big brands as it destroys the ability to compete on price.

Agreed on vintners, but this wouldn't be getting progressed by government if they weren't in the vintners pockets.

Main beneficiaries could be smaller off licences whose prices will now match up with supermarkets. Think the off licence association was in favour of it too, funny that

Quackster · 01-07-2019 11:03AM

I disagree, the "drinking problems" are myths from the government.

elperello wrote: »

Not in NI yet but likely when Stormont gets going again.

Seems a bit hard on border county off licences and shops to introduce MUP. People will certainly go North for the drink and buy the rest of their groceries while they are at it.

If/when Brexit happens it's game on as folk will no longer be able to legally import alcohol from NI in excess of normal duty free allowances. Expect a strong customs operation (aka a 'hard' border) to enforce this.

If you're anti-MUP, a no-deal Brexit would be the worst outcome as MUP could be implemented the day after regardless of what they do in NI. If there's a deal, there'll be a transition period where existing arrangements continue to apply and MUP won't be implemented during this period without it happening in NI too.

In the meantime, in the absence of either Stormont or Brexit, MUP ain't happening.

JCX BXC · 01-07-2019 11:11AM

Quackster wrote: »

If/when Brexit happens it's game on as folk will no longer be able to legally import alcohol from NI in excess of normal duty free allowances. Expect a strong customs operation (aka a 'hard' border) to enforce this.

How do you definitively know this? Nobody knows.

Quackster · 01-07-2019 11:36AM

I disagree, the "drinking problems" are myths from the government.

JCX BXC wrote: »

How do you definitively know this? Nobody knows.

Because, like the outgoing PM, both potential incoming PMs are committed to a hard Brexit involving the UK leaving the EU Customs Union (and Single Market).

So it seems almost certain there will either be a hard Brexit or no Brexit at all, there exists no political or popular support for a soft Brexit.

sdraobs · 01-07-2019 01:28PM

I disagree, the "drinking problems" are myths from the government.

i havent had a chance to read through all 257 pages of posts so this might have popped up.

But what is the cheapest way to get drunk.

i see a can of 4% 500ml beer in the supermarkets for 75 cents
a bottle of 12% 750ml wine for 4 euro in tesco.

anything cheaper in the price per alcohol grams content?

elperello · 01-07-2019 01:44PM

sdraobs wrote: »

i havent had a chance to read through all 257 pages of posts so this might have popped up.

But what is the cheapest way to get drunk.

i see a can of 4% 500ml beer in the supermarkets for 75 cents
a bottle of 12% 750ml wine for 4 euro in tesco.

anything cheaper in the price per alcohol grams content?

You are really in the wrong thread looking for that advice.
You could start your own and see what advice you get.

Most of the folks on here enjoy a drink. They just don't enjoy being asked to pay an extortionate price for it.

As for myself I haven't been drunk this decade

Minimum alcohol pricing is nigh

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