Minimum alcohol pricing is nigh

Yes and to be fair, I did say it was my opinion. Admittedly 'muck' was a a lot harsher than I actually meant or think. I do believe that the citrus is used to disguise the flavour, but understand it is often used to enhance existing flavours from the hops, citrus fruit being one that often is from the hops. It is done with almost all of the Irish ones I have tried, and there are very few craft breweries that don't, bar many having one or maybe two flavours that don't. That said I agree with you saying that it is good we have more choice (a lot of the same choice imo), and it is definitely a bad thing what MUP may do to some of the smaller breweries, although I think if the cheaper stuff goes up to the same price as those, and they are left alone, then more people may try them at the same or similar price. There seems to be very little unique experimentation with flavours here. Again, imho.

I do think though that many of the craft beers are okay but much prefer to swap around with the old worldly beers, and they are going to take a big thwack with MUP, It's almost as if they want us to only have Heineken, Guinness and Budweiser available throughout the whole country.

MUP seems it does a lot more harm than good.

Ah c'mon. You need to check your tongue isn't made of plastic or something.

Each to their own alright

My Mom liked a sauvignon liked a sauvignon blanc from Aldi more than bottles of Oyster Bay, Casillero del Diablo or McGuigan she was given

€2.11 increase per bottle now for her

LIDL had some great German beers for €1.99 a can

No more now unfortunately

Same beer is 39c in Aldi in Germany.

We don't have a cheap beer problem we have a politician problem.

Citrus flavors occur naturally in some hops, there doesn't need to be an additive for the flavor.

Half of them? I would say 80% of wine drinkers couldn't differentiate between a cheap bottle and a moderately expensive one.

She hasn't been in government in a decade so there are plenty of more worthy villains, like perhaps the current government who are implementing it?

As an aside, if this thread is to be believed, the policy originated in the FG manifesto in 2011.

I'd say she is a believer alright but the effort to shoehorn her in as the criminal mastermind behind the whole thing struck me as being a bit tenuous. If I end up being disgruntled by the whole thing, FG and FF would be the more obvious candidates for my ire.

Yeah and which government was Shorthall a Minister in?

The FG/Labour one after the 2011 election

Apologies for bleating without the facts, my liege. I must check in with with you next time to ensure my ire is directed appropriately.

Originates in the FG manifesto, 3 FG Ministers for Health in the interim, current FF Minister for Health, FG ministers for drug policy in recent years, and currently being implemented by a government lead by FF and FG... but the real culprits are Roisin Shortall and assorted others who've not been in government in donkeys years?

I'm not even particularly against the policy, I'll be eager to see how it plays out but the FFG apologists out in force already do make me chuckle.

I don't disagree with any of this. To the extent that I have reservations about the legislation, it's been disappointing to me that the obvious issues with it didn't get more of an airing beforehand, but not to labour the point, for better or worse this is FFG's baby despite the desperate efforts by a handful here to distance themselves from it already.

The current bunch are responsible for the timing,that's on them and it'll come back to bite them in the arse.Said a good few times on this thread over the years and here we are.

A lad in work has already been looking at courier service to collect a few pallets for his shibeen

Re: buying in the North.

How much will be allowed before it will be considered smuggling?

But they are not going to go out and claim that the same working people and less well off are being disadvantages because alcohol is now too expensive.

Food, fuel, clothes, housing, yes, absolutely they are grounds to make a case when prices go up that working people and less well off people can't afford them.

But booze, no way, they would have the full wrath of the health sector on top of them for that, and I don't just mean AAI, I mean doctors and professionals who know alcohol and it's effects on health.

If booze has become too expensive, just drink less.