Leo Varadkar is moving ahead with introducing minimum prices for drink in supermarkets.
The Taoiseach has indicated that the Government is now ready to press ahead with its minimum unit alcohol pricing policy.
It will set a price at which drink cannot be sold cheaper.
The legislation has been on the books since last October when the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill was passed in the Dáil.
The new measure will see the price of alcohol go up in supermarkets.
The policy reason given behind the move is because research shows that very low prices lead to worsening alcohol problems in society.
Prices are very low here in supermarkets and other outlets, where alcohol is often sold below cost to attract customers who they hope might spend more on other products.
It also results in people buying beer and spirits in bulk, because this is where the best deals can be got.
Bulk buying is proven to lead to an increase in alcohol abuse, especially among the young.
The Government had said they were going to wait until a similar law in Scotland worked.
This law was brought in there over a year ago and has bedded down now.
The Taoiseach indicated in Brussels that the time to bring in the same law in Ireland is now.
“Ireland leads on lots of things.
“But one of the advantages of not taking the lead on everything is that you learn from other people’s mistakes,
“Scotland brought in the legislation first and it does seem to be working, consumption is falling, and we’ll press ahead with implementing our public health alcohol legislation.”
