Minimum alcohol pricing is nigh

sully123 · 04-05-2021 10:55AM

kerryjack wrote: »

Would it be there every week 24 cans for 24 euro because I have never seen it down here in my local tesco

Last weekend it was.
Should be again for the next Bank Holiday if we make it that far.

FileNotFound · 04-05-2021 10:57AM

odyssey06 wrote: »

Those deals are already gone since January.
Cheapest bottle of wine will now be €7.50 and that's for a 12% wine which is rare to see these days.

They were removed on a temporary basis for the lockdown period.
The intention was they would be allowed return post lockdown no?

Remove the lower rung of prices and everything else will inflate as it can. So better wines become even more expensive.

Either way North is the way to go now - Get a months beer each time... Creeping towards non competition market quickly now.

IngazZagni · 04-05-2021 10:58AM

A Nordie lad that works in my company is about to become Mister popular as he’s going to take orders from staff and bring down a car load of cheaper drink regularly.
I always try to buy local but they can get stuffed on this front.

odyssey06 · 04-05-2021 11:01AM

FileNotFound wrote: »

They were removed on a temporary basis for the lockdown period.

The intention was they would be allowed return post lockdown no?

No, I haven't heard anything to suggest that. Nothing to do with lockdown, it was permanent removal of all such offers and discounts, or for example, earning loyalty points for alcohol purchases, planned pre-covid.

04-05-2021 11:03AM

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

Who are the people voting that drinking problems are a myths from the government?

I mean, the poll is not well-considered in the questions asked but seriously "myths from the government".

My own view is that the only way this is going to make any real difference to you financially is if you're drinking way over and above what's healthy.

I don't agree with price control as a mechanism to alleviate that. You should be offered effective public health and educational support.

kerryjack · 04-05-2021 11:04AM

sully123 wrote: »

Last weekend it was.
Should be again for the next Bank Holiday if we make it that far.

Won't affect me so because I have been paying 14 euro for 8 cans of Heineken in my local supermarket for years and I rarely spend less than a tenner for a bottle of wine so looks like we have been ripped off for years down here.

FileNotFound · 04-05-2021 11:05AM

odyssey06 wrote: »

No, I haven't heard anything to suggest that. Nothing to do with lockdown, it was permanent removal of all such offers and discounts, or for example, earning loyalty points for alcohol purchases, planned pre-covid.

Thats sad - so in a year this random bunch of lunatics under this Gov will have:

- Removed multibuy deals
- Removed the earning of and use of vouchers for alcohol
- Brought in minimum unit pricing
- Hidden the Off licence behind barriers (Great having to touch these in covid times)

And their sh1t little charity/lobby group is funded by the tax payer getting screwed by this.

FileNotFound · 04-05-2021 11:07AM

kerryjack wrote: »

Won't affect me so because I have been paying 14 euro for 8 cans of Heineken in my local supermarket for years and I rarely spend less than a tenner for a bottle of wine so looks like we have been ripped off for years down here.

If the competition dies in the market - prices will increase.

Add to this the few upcoming budgets post covid will most likely bring in additional tax on alcohol.

I wouldn't in theory (bar my cheap Franzi) but have no doubt a year from now I will be paying more again.

04-05-2021 11:08AM

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

FileNotFound wrote: »

Thats sad - so in a year this random bunch of lunatics under this Gov will have:

...

And their sh1t little charity/lobby group is funded by the tax payer getting screwed by this.

Have you worked out what the bottom line impact is on you financially based on typical consumption?

People should do that and if it's a lot of money they should drink less because the only way this is going to have a major financial impact on you is if you consume alcohol to excess very regularly in a way that is damaging to your health.

odyssey06 · 04-05-2021 11:11AM

ecoli3136 wrote: »

Have you worked out what the bottom line impact is on you financially based on typical consumption?

People should do that and if it's a lot of money they should drink less because the only way this is going to have a major financial impact on you is if you consume alcohol to excess very regularly in a way that is damaging to your health.

Why does something have to have a major financial impact before you can object?
Why should you have to pay more whether that's €10 a year or €100 a year or €1000 a year?
It's death by a thousand slashes in this country with rent seekers with politician's ears and privileged positions all grabbing undeserved shares of the public's cash.

ohnonotgmail · 04-05-2021 11:12AM

ecoli3136 wrote: »

Have you worked out what the bottom line impact is on you financially based on typical consumption?

People should do that and if it's a lot of money they should drink less because the only way this is going to have a major financial impact on you is if you consume alcohol to excess very regularly in a way that is damaging to your health.

anybody who drinks at home will be worse off financially. raising the floor price for alcohol will raise the price for all alcohol.

04-05-2021 11:14AM

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

odyssey06 wrote: »

Why does something have to have a major financial impact before you can object?
Why should you have to pay more whether that's €10 a year or €100 a year or €1000 a year?
It's death by a thousand slashes in this country with rent seekers all grabbing undeserved shares of the public's cash.

You can object for any reason.

I'm just pointing out that if this change causes a major financial impact on your bottom line you have other bigger problems.

Like I said, I don't support this as a control mechanism.

I think problem drinkers should be given educational and public health support.

FileNotFound · 04-05-2021 11:15AM

ecoli3136 wrote: »

Have you worked out what the bottom line impact is on you financially based on typical consumption?

People should do that and if it's a lot of money they should drink less because the only way this is going to have a major financial impact on you is if you consume alcohol to excess very regularly in a way that is damaging to your health.

Its will be a low to no impact initially.

However I disagree with it in principle. This is a major change to a competition driven market and the discussion forum seems to be closed to a few Gov personnel and some hard luck had a drunk in the family types.

I'd rather see the euro saver menu banned than this as it would have a greater impact on the nations health.

The number of changes in a short space of time is quite startling no?

KungPao · 04-05-2021 11:16AM

We should just swallow our pride and rejoin the UK. We’re not fit to rule ourselves!

tjhook · 04-05-2021 11:16AM

Perhaps there's scope for retailers and producers to be inventive?

E.g. where a certain bottle of Gin may have costed €18 and now must cost at least €22, perhaps they could include mixer with it? So the bottle plus mixer (perhaps in a "presentation" box) comes to €22? A bit like how today you sometimes get free glasses when buying certain beers.

It would adhere to the spirit of the law in that alcohol still can't be bought "cheaply" (whatever that means in an Irish context), maintains a buffer between basic and premium brands, and minimises the loss incurred by the consumer.

04-05-2021 11:16AM

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

FileNotFound wrote: »

Its will be a low to no impact initially.

However I disagree with it in principle. This is a major change to a competition driven market and the discussion forum seems to be closed to a few Gov personnel and some hard luck had a drunk in the family types.

I'd rather see the euro saver menu banned than this as it would have a greater impact on the nations health.

The number of changes in a short space of time is quite startling no?

Not worth getting worked up over.

I don't think the people getting worked up over it are doing so because they're free-market hawks.

kerryjack · 04-05-2021 11:17AM

ecoli3136 wrote: »

Have you worked out what the bottom line impact is on you financially based on typical consumption?

People should do that and if it's a lot of money they should drink less because the only way this is going to have a major financial impact on you is if you consume alcohol to excess very regularly in a way that is damaging to your health.

It's not about the money it's about the way they are going about it, nanny state treating us like little hamsters in a hamster cage turning the big wheel, if them little fecckers drink more than what's good for them we will just rise the price on them ha ha by the pricks on 100 I a year or the ex alcoholics who are now cleaner than clean and wants to go around waving the big stick fuuuck the lot of them I say.

04-05-2021 11:18AM

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

odyssey06 wrote: »

Those deals are already gone since January.
Cheapest bottle of wine will now be €7.50 and that's for a 12% wine which is rare to see these days.

TBH that's for cooking with.

odyssey06 · 04-05-2021 11:19AM

tjhook wrote: »

Perhaps there's scope for retailers and producers to be inventive?
E.g. where a certain bottle of Gin may have costed €18 and now must cost at least €22, perhaps they could include mixer with it? So the bottle plus mixer (perhaps in a "presentation" box) comes to €22? A bit like how today you sometimes get free glasses when buying certain beers.
It would adhere to the spirit of the law in that alcohol still can't be bought "cheaply" (whatever that means in an Irish context), maintains a buffer between basic and premium brands, and minimises the loss incurred by the consumer.

Fraid not - all such loopholes were closed back in January as you are unable to get another product free\discounted on purchase of alcohol. It's the reason you no longer earn loyalty points in supermarkets when you purchase alcohol.

04-05-2021 11:20AM

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

anybody who drinks at home will be worse off financially. raising the floor price for alcohol will raise the price for all alcohol.

Which will make the local drug dealer look like better value as a result. It's really as though the government haven't considered that aspect of it at all. Madness. :rolleyes:

odyssey06 · 04-05-2021 11:22AM

Deleted User wrote: »

Which will make the local drug dealer look like better value as a result. It's really as though the government haven't considered that aspect of it at all. Madness. :rolleyes:

People shouldn't be doing drugs because there's already laws against it.
So nobody should be doing it.
So for the people who think like that in their ivory towers such people aren't their problem because they don't really exist.
A large number of the people who push for these laws are that clueless.

SteM · 04-05-2021 11:23AM

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

Anyone that thinks that MUP and tax increases on alcohol won't be happening up north is crazy. Britain has the same economic issues coming down the pike that we do and probably worse when the true cost of Brexit is seen. Get your cheap drink up there while you can, it won't stay cheap imo.

04-05-2021 11:24AM

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

odyssey06 wrote: »

People shouldn't be doing drugs because there's already laws against it.
So nobody should be doing it.
So for the people who think like that in their ivory towers such people aren't their problem because they don't really exist.
A large number of the people who push for these laws are that clueless.

No you're right the only choices are cheaper drink or everyone will take illegal drugs instead.

FileNotFound · 04-05-2021 11:24AM

ecoli3136 wrote: »

Not worth getting worked up over.

I don't think the people getting worked up over it are doing so because they're free-market hawks.

I'd say you are wrong in that thought process.

Most people I know who are anti these changes are low volume drinkers who just likes being able to use a voucher to get a free bottle of wine (was somehow nicer than a free bottle of olive oil).

It really is the fact that this is being driven from a very narrow minded minority that have chips on their shoulders due to unfortunate life experiences, they are looking to blame an industry for something that happened due a persons own decisions.

This is just very typical of the new way of things, fat people eat too much so we have a sugar tax I have to pay now (once again minor financial impact), some people drink too much so no we have minimum alcohol pricing.

Always the every day person paying for someone else failings

odyssey06 · 04-05-2021 11:25AM

SteM wrote: »

Anyone that thinks that MUP and tax increases on alcohol won't be happening up north is crazy. Britain the same economic issues coming down the pike that we do and probably worse when the true cost of Brexit is seen. Get your cheap drink up there while you can, it won't stay cheap imo.

MUP doesn't bring in revenue to Her Majesty's Exchequer.
Shoppers from the Republic coming back with full boots from Sainsburys in the North will.

FileNotFound · 04-05-2021 11:25AM

SteM wrote: »

Anyone that thinks that MUP and tax increases on alcohol won't be happening up north is crazy. Britain the same economic issues coming down the pike that we do and probably worse when the true cost of Brexit is seen. Get your cheap drink up there while you can, it won't stay cheap imo.

I think the Assembly will be collapsed soon and the UK Gov won't be rushing to piss off the average voter for a bit.

Should be grand for the foreseeable future

odyssey06 · 04-05-2021 11:27AM

ecoli3136 wrote: »

No you're right the only choices are cheaper drink or everyone will take illegal drugs instead.

Well there's a strawman if ever there was one.

Scotland brought in MUP and has seen an increase in drug use.
They aren't the only choices but some people seem to be making that choice.

Other people will make the choice to smuggle booze down from the North or further afield; or go up themselves and come back down with a full boot.

Were only choices people faced when cigarette taxes were jacked up to stop smoking or pay the tax?
Then how do you account for how much blackmarket cigarettes are sold in the Republic?

minitrue · 04-05-2021 11:34AM

Increasing the price is a nanny-state measure with an impact similar to the problems caused by regressive taxation but ultimately that would just irk me if it was done by taxation rather than have me disgusted.

Increasing the price by forcing some to take increased profits is simply political corruption in my book.

tjhook · 04-05-2021 11:35AM

odyssey06 wrote: »

Fraid not - all such loopholes were closed back in January as you are unable to get another product free\discounted on purchase of alcohol. It's the reason you no longer earn loyalty points in supermarkets when you purchase alcohol.

Even as a "gift set"? I think you can already see gift sets that are the same price or cheaper than the alcohol product alone. Maybe it's different if it's packaged as a single product, rather than separate items from a shelf?

Tullamore Dew €31
Same bottle with glasses, €27.50

FileNotFound · 04-05-2021 11:36AM

odyssey06 wrote: »

Well there's a strawman if ever there was one.

Scotland brought in MUP and has seen an increase in drug use.
They aren't the only choices but some people seem to be making that choice.

Other people will make the choice to smuggle booze down from the North or further afield; or go up themselves and come back down with a full boot.

Were only choices people faced when cigarette taxes were jacked up to stop smoking or pay the tax?
Then how do you account for how much blackmarket cigarettes are sold in the Republic?

You are right, the ultimate irony of these kinds of decisions is they mostly hit those people who only buy on occasion as its not worth the effort getting around them.
The same people they are not really intended for.
Still amazed such changes are coming in with so little debate or opposition. Where the studies supporting this? Compared to studies showing negative impacts etc.
Mind you my opposition is more based on point of principle rather than anything else.

One Question though, this price increase - is it basically just giving shops and companies more money - or is there a taxation increase to force this? In other words are the tax payer in a lose lose entirely or at least will there be more money for public expenditure? Surely this would be daft if all the extra cost just goes to drink companies ans shops selling... Punish the sale of alcohol by potentially increasing the profits is a bit daft no?

Minimum alcohol pricing is nigh

Comments