Ireland: MUP May Pass Soon
Minimum Unit Pricing is set to pass during upcoming parliamentary session in Ireland
Legislation to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol could pass all stages of both Houses of the Oireachtas in the coming session, Minister for Health Simon Harris has said.
Speaking in Dublin at the launch of Recovery Month, an initiative being championed by the Rutland Centre for addiction treatment, Mr Harris called on all political parties and Independents to “step up to the plate” and support the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill.
Comprehensive bill for better public health
As well as minimum unit pricing, the Bill includes provisions to regulate advertising and sponsorship of alcohol, to provide health labelling on products and to ensure structural separation of alcohol in shops.
The Minister said he had taken on board concerns raised in the Seanad that the requirements would place an undue financial burden on small business owners and he would reflect that in amendments to the legislation in October.
He pointed out that the Rutland Centre had found alcohol was still the biggest addiction they were coming across.
I suggest we listen to medics and to clinical experts perhaps an awful lot more than we listen to some vested interests in this regard,” the Minister said, per The Irish Times.
I believe you can make every ‘Trojan horse’ argument that you wish to dilute this legislation, but at the end of the day if we are serious about showing political leadership on alcohol, rather than political platitudes, we need to get on with delivering this legislation.”