Minimum alcohol pricing is nigh

Does that really add anything to "However, there is no evidence to support this claim"?

It completely changes it as they agree it is logically possible therefore it is a completely reasonable claim to make.

Is there anyone on this thread who is going to start taking heroin or cocaine because of MUP? Or going to increase their consumption? If not they have no right to think that other people will do it.

Or apparently the option to hire fleets of buses to go North. Students must have lots of money.

Yeah, it''s a ridiculous counter argument tbh.

Jesus what a pathetic level you have dropped to.

Maybe there is something in the idea that students will increase their intake of illegal drugs. But it saddens me to see a student leader making this case, while at the same time pleading poverty on behalf of her members. Also making the case that these impoverished students from Galway will somehow find the means to get drink from the North.

https://www.newstalk.com/news/regressive-minimum-unit-pricing-will-push-people-towards-illegal-drugs-nuig-students-union-1294809

Minimum unit pricing is a “very regressive measure” that will push people further into poverty and increase the use of illegal drugs, according to the NUI Galway Students’ Union president.

“There are going to be floods of people going to the North,” she said. “There were floods of people going to the supermarkets yesterday trying to stock up on all the alcohol before it increased. I do see the intention behind this, but it is not going to stop people drinking alcohol.

“All it is going to do is push people further into poverty and increase reliance on other unsafe substances.

Is it really that surprising considering the constant reports about the country being riddled with cocaine use? You can be sad all you want but it sounds like the NUIG Union President is living in reality and likely knows far better than you or the likes of AAI what students are actually getting up to these days.

I do a regular run to Newry for pet food...but got some beer this time.

Tins of moretti 6 for 6 pounds, worked out cheaper than the big packs.

Also got some Estella tins 4 for 4 pounds.

Best before Nov 2022

None of that suggest that there is any economic argument. Which of course will make MUP a failure among students.

Yeah but the attitude of the anti alcohol brigade on here is that if can afford it so it doesn't matter and you just need to suck it up. And if you cant afford it then ....

Anti alcohol people don't drink.

they will roll it back if people make it an election issue, which plenty will as it's an indirect subsidy to the publicans and not a health measure.

It won't be an election issue as no party is arguing against it. It will only become an issue if, as consumers, we take a stand.

If a large enough amount of consumers refused to buy at the inflated prices, and let the retailers know of their annoyance, then the government, and all parties, would come under increasing pressure. Added to the general inflation that will cause of rethink.

The thing with this MUP thing is that it is very easy to prove it is working. Mainly because it's difficult to track whether drug usage has increased or people have started buying drink up north or on the black market. Or started brewing their own. Those statistics have metrics to get an idea, but they can be easily ignored and left out of studies.

Seeing sales of alcohol drop in off licenses and supermarkets can be easily spun as alcohol consumption being down. Let's face it, hardly anyone is going to forego a slab and buy heroin. It will be mostly coke, mdma or pills. Might be some hospital visits on the back of increased consumption of those. But people won't be dying in their droves from taking them.

And the thing with those type of drugs, all it takes is to decide to do it one weekend in lieu of what you usually drink. And then you'll know what the buzz is like and you'll want to recreate it. One of my best mates is 39 and has his first bag of coke for tonight for example. All because of MUP. Married man with 3 kids and has got a bag delivered to his house for 30 quid. It is so easy to get drugs without leaving your house. I don't people realize how simple it is. And you don't even have to pay straight away. That will entice people too. Not wise, but it is done in abundance week in week out.

MUP will stop being a topic and people will continue on without saying anything and find their ways to drink if they still want to continue at levels they usually did before MUP. I'm just back from Jonesborough and picked up some things for a few months. Not just for me. For when family visit etc. I won't keep coming back here and saying I went up again. It will just become the norm. But those trips will contribute towards a justification that MUP is working as my money was spent up north and not tracked here.