Minimum alcohol pricing is nigh

The effect on alcoholics was in reference to the article and to the expected results of MUP (the 'effect' being that they would stop buying it), but i get you, and agree

It seems that they thought by increasing the price, that lower income people who were struggling with money and alcohol, would make the decision to stop buying alcohol and in turn use the little money they have to buy food as a result of MUP. They didn't care about the wealthier alcoholics, or the rest of the people that drink, but aren't alcoholics, as "It doesn't effect them".

Nothing about this MUP makes sense when looked at a little more. Early on in this thread people on this thread had pretty much said what that report says, would happen.

i.e. The lower income alcoholics started spending more of their lower income on alcohol, as it became more expensive.

We all are aware that every party voted it to go through, but would it be a massive ask for any of them to have a reversal plan ready to use if it didn't work/show any signs of working? Or are they all just that arrogant.

In any case, I will also be asking about any plans to reverse it. The people that it is supposed to help most, don't seem to be benefiting from it. Are we just to keep lining the retailers and alcohol manufacturers pockets regardless? Or will it be reviewed?

And seeing as Scotland is years ahead of us take their results into account. Seeing as we followed them into this useless test program to begin with.

When MUP was first proposed I thought it would be like the euro changeover. I though the cheap cans of supermarket beers would be upped to the MUP and the good stuff (which I drink) increased accordingly... I'm glad that hasn't happened (yet?)

With that being said I am a fan of the free market so overall I still don't like it

Local offy (Centra) is selling pint cans of Lithuanian beer. A lager, A dark lager and a red ale.

The lager is really nice but the other 2 are awful.

568ml can at 5.2%

According to the MUP calculator this should be at least 2.33 per can but they are selling it for 1.59

I have no problem with this but how are they getting away with it?

Whole system of new rules is a joke, the government bring in legislation to have doors leading in to the supermarket off licences so that children are protected against the alcohol advertising/branding and then every single supermarket in the country sets up massive non-alcohol displays around the entrances to the off licence sections and then super oddly the hours to buy the non-alcohol versions are the same as the alcohol, madness.

Yeah, I didn't expect it to be weak, but was just pointing out that is the only reason I can think of that it could be that cheap.

Is it any of the Svyturys brand?

If you really like the lager buy lot's of it before they get get snitched on by some concerned citizen 🙂

Seeing a load of people talking about how to get the cheapest drink... reminds me of another sector of society...

I'm not saying the posters belong in that section, but there is a section of society who will go to any lengths to get their cheap fix, sound familiar is all. #justsayin

I understand all that, but from the few threads I've read about people going on 2 hour drives to go up north to fill up on booze to save a few quid, to people comparing the cheaper than new standard priced drinks... it's just, in my opinion, a sign of desperation. I mean, for most people who drink, will it have such an effect? Surely you'd want to be drinking like a fish for it to really affect you, and by that stage the price is the least of the problems.

Don't get me wrong, I drove 2 hours to pick up a bag of weed once. But that's currently illegal, so understandable. Going out of your way for a few euro saved on a few cans, or filling up the boot up north to bring it back down... It's not a good read. And if it really is making the cost of your weekly alcohol purchases that much harder, I'd be looking at how much you are drinking.

But again, just my 2 cents. I've siblings who could have been borderline alcoholics, and with MUP they're drinking less now. It's not all doom and gloom, it's having a positive effect on some people. And the less people drinking, the better.

I listened to a report on this on BBC News. I can't provide a link but the reporter said that the Scottish government are considering increasing the MUP as a result of it.

When a report shows that MUP has no effect on problem drinkers they disgustingly infer they didn't go far enough. That is outrageous. What there are saying is they are putting any kind of alc purchase out of the reach of low income people as a policy.

At the same time our government has said that they wish to change laws related to the legal times of sale of alc. Meaning you can legally buy alcohol after 10pm in shops and in licensed entertainment venues beyond the average 1am time for pubs, or whatever it is.

All of this shows that out gov are taxing ppl having a good time. I find all this utterly outrageous and I'd really like to see a movement counteracting this tax grab, as if it's about the nations health well-being. Clearly it's not because if they gave a frig about the health of the nation they would ban the sale of crap processed food.

I've never been convinced that MUP would prevent alcoholics from buying drink.

They are too far gone at that stage.

But I am convinced that higher prices will prevent people from becoming alcoholics in the future because the price will be a deterrent to young people buying alcohol.

I also think that advertising curbs are as important as pricing in trying to achieve the above.

I am fairly proud of the fact that since the introduction of MUP I have not purchased a single six pack of beer in an Irish supermarket nor have I changed my drinking habits! I never was an enthusiastic Pub goer and that has stayed the same. I also don't live close to NI. What definitely has changed is my opinion about the Politicians here. I never had a high opinion about the Politics in Ireland but MUP was the straw which broke the camels back. I will not vote for any of the political Parties who supported this shameless Law until it is abolished!

It's definitely a problem that they all support it.

Trinity Professor Sean Barrett who was a Senator at the time was the only voice raised against MUP.

As an economist he correctly pointed out the madness of making a gift to the drinks trade as a measure to address the so called "Ireland's drink problem".

So now with this morally bankrupt public policy we have people who drink at moderate levels in their own homes being forced to subsidise the drinks trade.

The way that 'driving all the way to Newry to save a few quid' is painted in such a negative light always amazes me. For a big percentage of the population it's a quick spin up or an 80-minute €23 return train trip. It's a nice enough town, not the worst place to pass a few hours walking around and be back in time for tea.

You can buy a couple of weeks worth of alcohol. You can (as repeatedly pointed out by buttonftw) save 50% plus on toiletries and general medical stuff in various discount retailers. If you vape like me, you can save about 30% on liquids or disposables (Elf Bars £4 compared to €8 here). If you are a Marks&Spencers or Next shopper (which you really shouldn't be as they are owned/ran by Brexit-backing Tory-donaters but that's another debate) you can buy your stuff on the STG price rather than that excessive EUR markup on the label.

The idea that people who take advantage of these savings need to question themselves in some way is curious.