Wine and vodka price hikes are on the way under Government plans to crack down on cheap booze by the end of this year.
The new measures specifically targets inexpensive, non-branded drinks sold in supermarkets and off-licences.
The rules would see alcohol prices raised to 10c per gram of alcohol.
This means the minimum price for a can of beer with 5% alcohol by volume will be €1.97.
The minimum for a bottle of wine with 12.5% alcohol will be €7.40, while a bottle of whiskey with 40% alcohol will cost at least €22.
Once implemented, a can of Dutch Gold costing €1.13 will go up by 45c, calculations show.
A €12.99 bottle of Tesco vodka will go up by €7.72 to €20.71.
A €15.99 bottle of Tesco gin would increase by €4.72 to €20.71. Eunan McKinney from Alcohol Action Ireland told the Irish Mirror: “We very much welcome the moves by Government to advance minimum unit pricing and we hope they will actually bring it to fruition.
“The measure endeavours to ensure the cheapest, strongest alcohol available on the market will not be sold for less than a price that reflects the level of alcohol that’s contained in the product.”
Mr McKinney said the measure is “very progressive” and has recently been introduced in jurisdictions including Scotland, as well as areas of Canada and Australia.
Reducing alcohol consumption levels is crucial to public health in Ireland, Mr McKinney argues.
He said: “We significantly ride above what the average is across the EU and globally. We’re way above what a normal society would consume.
“If we can reduce alcohol consumption then we can reduce the significant levels of alcohol harms that are attached to it.”
Plans to introduce minimum alcohol pricing are set to be approved by Cabinet within the next two weeks.
Health Minister Simon Harris plans to bring the proposals before his colleagues before the Dail breaks for summer, the Sunday Independent report said.
