Minimum alcohol pricing is nigh

MEGA BRO WOLF 5000 · 20-07-2022 6:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119364710#Comment_119364710

Irish governments solution to everything is tax it to death or outright ban it. Time for this lot to go.

Yet another example of failed government policy. Everything they touch turns to shyte.

Either were a single European market or were not.

Juran · 20-07-2022 8:26pm

I don't condone not paying your taxes, but I totally get why so many in Ireland dodge taxes (cash in hand work) and other methods, as we pay so much indirect tax through high levels of VAT on fuel, drink, cars, goods in general. And don't get me started on car VRT on second hand cars from the EU ... as previous poster pointed out, so much for the single market.

I lived in France and Germany for years, and a year in Switzerland. Never did I come across or hear of services being performed for cash in hand. Most people there seemed very happy to pay the VAT. Maybe there was some tax dodgers, I dont know, but I never heard people complain about taxes and VAT on goods.

I complain, as I feel I pay too much VAT on alcohol and other goods compared to my EU neighbours.

In 2021, in Germany, I was paying €4.80 for a 6-pack Heneiken, €0.80 for a 500 ml standard german beer or weissbeir. Oftten it was on offer for 0.45 cents for 500ml. Same bottle in Ireland is €3.00.

ShamNNspace · 20-07-2022 9:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119365623#Comment_119365623

The Germans even have a name for it schwarzarbeit, surprised you never came accross it 🤔

fritzelly · 20-07-2022 10:24pm

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

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119358485#Comment_119358485

It's quite simple really - if it's costing me more to have a drink at home then I can't afford to go to the pub and will just forget the pub for that one night a week and have a drink at home instead.

Friday night pub and Saturday couple of drinks at home is now 2 nights at home

ShamNNspace · 20-07-2022 11:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119366138#Comment_119366138

Drove through the local town earlier, doors closed in three pubs and this on the week before the races and with excitement building around the tribesmen in the final at headquarters, hotel booked out with Ukranian refugees, a lot of the fun and joy of a few pints in a public house is sucked out of it for me by the constant hand wringing and preaching

xxxxxxl · 21-07-2022 12:16am

Take home up 11% wonder if that cos people don't want to catch covid. I would be wary of going into a jammed pub at this stage. Got a does of something dont want it again. Not scared of my shadow but If I can limit getting it again.

Gusser09 · 21-07-2022 12:32am

12 pk of local lager on lanzarote

330ml cans x 2.40.

Go figure.

12 heinekens

330ml cans 6.50

VinLieger · 21-07-2022 8:12am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119365090#Comment_119365090

Hate to break it to you but every party in the dail supported this shambolic legislation. No mastter who gets in its here to stay for the foreseeable no matter what the actual studies and facts show about its lack of effectiveness.

Suckit · 24-07-2022 8:17pm

Alcohol Action Ireland now issuing warnings to the Government. Their prize project isn't working.

How about, instead of costing all of us a fecking fortune, keep an eye on it in Scotland, because as it is now, it seems it will have no effect on those it is intended for, and will just be a burden on the rest of us for the next (at least) four years, or until Scotland accepts it doesn't work.

https://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/home/865529/watchdog-says-government-must-not-change-policy-on-minimum-prices-for-alcohol.html

Phil.x · 25-07-2022 4:33pm

€6.75 for a bottle of blossom Hill wine, which is expensive enough over here in Spain. The beach is awash with raging alcoholics........not.

thesandeman · 25-07-2022 7:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119385837#Comment_119385837

Great price for a Bimbo as well 😮

La Madame · 31-07-2022 12:09pm

Sunday Times from today . Rest unfortunately behind a paywall .

Suckit · 31-07-2022 2:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119411079#Comment_119411079

It was on the BBC news the other day but when I went to look for the report I couldn't find it. I could only fine that this last year has had the lowest drug deaths in Scotland in a while, but it didn't have the rest of the report that was on the news on TV. The report had shown links to MUP while stating that the link is only being noticed now, and they couldn't prove any definite link between the two, but it was believed to be responsible for many of them. It went on to state that Scotland still holds the title of "Drug Death Capital of Europe" despite slightly decreasing it is still a very high number.

This is from last year -

https://mobile.twitter.com/krispies7922/status/1421039579377844225

And her reply (I don't use twitter so have no idea how to get the full reply)

https://i.postimg.cc/c157sPsJ/Alison-Douglas-on-Twitter.png

Suckit · 01-08-2022 1:10pm

Drug death rate: Minimum alcohol pricing has driven people to street drugs in Scotland, say experts

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/minimum-alcohol-pricing-has-driven-people-to-street-drugs-say-experts-8t5z8tsf9

Gusser09 · 02-08-2022 4:21pm

Am I right in thinking that I'd get better bang for my dollar going on the spirits at this stage. Paid 26 euro from 12 cans of Heineken at the weekend. Dreadful really. 26 euro is 5 pints in the local. So you really are thinking of going in for a pint instead now.

In other news we should just rename Alcohol Action Ireland to the Licensed Vintner's Association. They seem to be the lobby group with most skin the game.

I can't see anything changing in the short term but with inflation and the cost of living killing people I think Christmas could be the straw that breaks the camels back with this. People will want to socialise at home and have a few beers with family / friends but that price of that now is through the roof. I think it could start to shift then. Is anyone in Government really arsed though.

La Madame · 04-08-2022 7:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119419778#Comment_119419778

Well said. .....We are in the home brew business now . There is lots of support and the beers we brew have turned out really well! Only thing - We as apprentices cannot control the alcohol content . We get about 6.8 Vol % and are used to standard Vol 4,9 % before MUP. I am thinking to write to Alcohol Action Ireland or the Minister for Health because now we are falling all over the place since we have turned to the home brew!! We are waiting for recommendations 🤣

ShamNNspace · 04-08-2022 7:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119429731#Comment_119429731

Please drink responsibly 😉

La Madame · 04-08-2022 7:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119429739#Comment_119429739

Such banal slogans do not help! Abolish MUP!😅

Potential-Monke · 04-08-2022 9:38pm

I'm trying to figure out how paying €26 for 12 cans makes one consider going for 5 pints for the same money instead...

Gusser09 · 04-08-2022 9:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119430428#Comment_119430428

The social aspect i suppose in a way. Before MUP i wouldnt have considered. It was too dear. The publicans are a backer of MUP and i think this is one of its aims.

GhostyMcGhost · 04-08-2022 9:48pm

No need to think! It’s a fact, it was literally written in an old FG manifesto from around 2010-ish

Potential-Monke · 04-08-2022 9:51pm

Fair enough. Doesn't compute to me, but each to their own!

VinLieger · 05-08-2022 9:40am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119430445#Comment_119430445

From section 5.3 of their 2011 manifesto its laid out quite plainly for all to see where the original reasoning for MUP came from.

Supporting Irish Pubs: Fine Gael recognises the importance of the Irish pub for tourism, rural jobs and as a social outlet in communities across the country. We will support the local pub by banning the practice of below cost selling on alcohol, particularly by large supermarkets and the impact this has had on alcohol consumption and the viability of pubs.

It was only after this policy was realised to be completely illegal at an EU level that the likes AAI, college of physicians as well all the other fun sponges and Helen Lovejoy esque hand wringers out there jumped on board to help pretend this was a medical issue and that MUP would help fix it.

L1011 · 05-08-2022 9:46am

Banning below cost selling would be legal and would be a lot cheaper than MUP. But they insisted on going for the inflationary neoprohibitionist option

odyssey06 · 05-08-2022 10:19am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119431651#Comment_119431651

And I think it could have been done at the stroke of a pen and come into effect 2 years before MUP.

The cynic in me suspects they deliberately didn't ban below cost selling to bolster their case for MUP.

L1011 · 05-08-2022 10:21am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119431805#Comment_119431805

It would also have required Martin to admit he was wrong - he removed the original ban on it!

Pauliedragon · 05-08-2022 10:43am

I think by now a lot of people have forgotten about it. Short memory sydnrome is rife these days. Petrol in my area is about 1.96 at the moment and people are talking as if that's a bargain price. They've completely forgotten it was about 1.35 ( I think) in Jan.