Minimum alcohol pricing is nigh

Things have only moved on here, and only 10 days. The rest of Europe likely hasn't even really noticed, and if any of the mainland countries tried to implement it, the opposition that they would be met with would likely finish mup altogether.

Also, we have no idea if anyone will decide to take it to court here, or if they even need to. As mentioned, the anti-discriminatory act from the EU could kick in.

One thing is almost certain, with the EU wording and laws as they are, it can't be found legal. They may however try to push it through citing health or find a loophole, but as mentioned and at the risk of repetition even the Scottish and Welsh MUP could still be found illegal in their market, and that was already deemed lawful in their court.

All he's done is ensured that credit notes or any other means of value exchange will be added to the legislation to close the loop hole.

Anyway it shouldn't be down to any individual to have to take on the Government. We, as a people, shouldn't tolerate it. Not in these inflationary times, not ever.

People will excoriate me for the comparison (for which I don't give a shyte) but it will take the sort of protests that came out against water charges. If that doesn't happen, it's here to stay.

Maybe we need a few lessons from the French. Fuel duties rose sharply there in 2019, the response was the burning out of 3,200 speed cameras. Most of those were already destroyed previously over plans to reduce D-route speed limits from 90 to 80 kph.

And the outcome? The fuel duties were lowered again and the speed limit reduction abandoned....

Hard to argue with direct democracy.

Can you tell us which of the European mainland countries have a chronic disability - like that the Irish have with alcohol? Just one will suffice.

None of the EU's business what we do here anyway.

The truck drivers blocked traffic in December, I can't really see the need to block traffic for alcohol pricing as it would kill off public support. If I was thinking what could be done it would be these ideas that would come to mind...

• A publicised campaign of legal imporation of €1million worth of alcohol being brought down each weekend, get 5000 cars to spend €200 in NIRL on booze and bring it back, Smokey & The Bandit type fun.
• Have a proper public awareness campaign on pricing showing the differences and value to be got going over the border to NIRL.
• Have free travel holders go up on the train and buses to NIRL and document their hauls of alcohol brought back.
• Days or weeks of a campaign of zero purchase of alcohol here, meaning pubs, off licences, government get zero.
• The next bi-election, EU election etc a new candidate running purely on MAP is run with mass support.
• A time and date are set where drinkers each dump a full case of beer in to nearest sewer and document it on social media, could get global media coverage. (mad as hell option)

Going off official OECD figures you would be absolutely wrong but as usual I wouldnt ever expect the facts to affect your opinions especially when you saw a chance to give out about the EU. As regards our "chronic disability" with alcohol as of 2019 there are 14 other countries in Europe who consume more per capita than us and our consumption is still continuing its 2 decades long decline, we have been changing but people like you refuse to see it because it doesnt help your many bias or agendas.

And the french are cheese eating surrender monkeys. And the germans war mongers. Stereotype much?

Chronic disability?

How about one with higher alcohol consumption per capita?

One - Czech Republic.

I see aldis spaten has gone up to €2.05, same with helles, both nice bottled German beer

I must go back to LIDL to have a look

Some of my favourites in Aldi have gone up 17.08%, 28.64% and 48.74% thanks to MUP

Yeah the win snobbery is funny

Just assume something is terrible as was reasonably priced

it is the EU'S business what we do if it breaks EU law.

ireland has no disability with alcohol, cronic or otherwise, it is a myth.

ireland once had a small problem with alcohol due to the zeletry of the catholic church but that is long gone.

correct, and ireland has not had cheap alcohol for a long time, we have the most expensive prices in europe.

and the VFI/publican protection and anti-competition subsidy has made it even more expensive again.

In honesty I've not noticed a bug price jump in any of he stuff I buy, seemed to be the same if anything

I thought it would have a huge impact but was happy to be wrong