Minimum alcohol pricing is nigh

They should introduce MUP for petrol/diesel. Or maybe make cars out of reach of the lower income section of society. That'll solve most of the problems.

Can't read that rag, but if that's all it says, then it seems to be providing the opposite of sensationalism. There are already groups on Instagram and Snapchat doing runs.

I'm not even on Instagram or snapchat and know that.

I'm not sure what the Government thought would happen if they kept adding tax on alcohol and then add something like MUP to the most expensive alcohol in the EU.

Would they really be that surprised if people saw a profit to be made on the black market for it?

"A remarkable success for the publicans of Ireland."

So it has nothing to do with health?

I wouldn't count my chickens on MUP in the North being quick. It wouldn't be the most difficult thing in the world for those with the ability to bring in alcohol from Europe anyway.

But rejoice it will prove we have solved alcoholism. Waiting for the gobshites in rte to run a news story on it in a years time.

Letters aren't going to do it. There is nobody standing on the platform of abolishing the MUP for you to change your vote to.

The only way, in fact the easiest way, is to use your power as a consumer. Refuse to buy at the new inflated prices. And tell your usual place of business that you will not buy unless the MUP is scrapped.

If enough people do it, if turnover is negatively effected by a large enough amount, then retail bodies will become involved and they are far more powerful.

But we all know that won't happen. People are too lazy, too addicted to drink and habit that the vast majority will simply accept it and pay up.

Currently having a few pints of cider. Apple tree cider in fact.

Used to be able to get 4 cans or 2 liter bottle for 5 or 6 euro. It was 6 percent alcohol. Now they have 2 litre bottles going for 6.99 euro - but of course 4.2 percent alcohol. Sure the taste is the same but the buzz isn't if that makes sense.

I hate this min price alcohol.

It is not to tell the TD's how much they spend on drink. It is merely to let them know that they are going elsewehere to get it. I wouldn't be suggesting it for the statistics. As for the 'theory', I was referring to the decline of alcohol purchases here, and let's face it, it's not beyond the realms of possibility for the government to openly lie to suit their narrative.

I'm not suggesting 'everyone' go North, I was referring to those that do go North or abroad. but I am expecting the alcohol black market to have grown quite substantially by St. Patricks day.

Where there is a profit to be made, you can bet someone will try take advantage of it.

Yeah, they're nearly on target with that aim too. If they could just decide to open the pubs longer, they might hit a bullseye, and the alcohol consumption should plummet right down to their target figure.

Anyone contacting the Minister / Department of Health about this Public Health legislation my recommendation would be to outline the effect it is having on your own health, or what you expect it will do to your health in future. Personal testimonies like this will be more powerful than special pleading on behalf of pensioners and poor people. Or blaming publicans and vintners. Or even decrying the negative economic effects of cross border shopping. These arguments are well known, and are the stock in trade of newspapers columnists.

Keep it personal, and keep it on the topic of your own health.

apply for a tesco UK clubcard.

use any Nordie address.

they give you the digital clubcard number.

do click and collect, buy all your drink, get the clubcard bonus also, which saves you a good chunk on top of prices, use your digital clubcard.

drive up, get your booze.

lads are up there today doing it.

your welcome.

That is actually the only way to protest this.

If you stop using the off licenses then consumption will go down and that's the plan for MUP.

If you boycott the pubs then the government will take no heed, actually they will be happy because again it's less consumption.

Going to the north is only attractive for some because of the exchange rate and the price of fuel, so that's not going to be enough of an issue to make the government react.

So your only choice is to organize an anti- MUP group.

Fund yourselves by pooling all the money members save by not going to the pub and off license and bring a case to Europe.

I'm surprised that people are still flogging the dead horse of an EU challenge. I thought we disposed of that in the thread a long time back. The Scotch Whisky lobby failed, as did the wine producers lobby in various countries. It has been settled, the competence to introduce MUP belongs with the national parliaments and courts.

2. Licensing policy in Scotland Alcohol licensing is a devolved matter.

A minimum unit price of 50p was introduced on 1 May 2018. This followed an unsuccessful legal challenge to the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012.

2.1 The Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012 The Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012 received Royal Assent in June 2012. The Act amended the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 and paved the way for the introduction of MUP. Background to the 2012 Act is available in a Scottish Parliament Information Service (SPICe) briefing paper. Scottish Whisky Association legal challenge The Scottish Whisky Association (SWA) unsuccessfully challenged the 2012 Act in the European and Scottish courts. The SWA claimed that MUP was contrary to EU law, would not be effective in tackling alcohol misuse, and would penalise responsible drinkers. In July 2012, the SWA lodged a complaint with the European Commission and filed a petition for judicial review with the Scottish Court of Session. In a ruling of 3 May 2013, the Court refused the SWA’s petition. The Court ruled that the 2012 Act and the proposed Order setting a minimum unit price were not outside the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament. The Court also decided that the measures were not incompatible with EU law. The SWA appealed the decision. In April 2014, the Scottish Court of Session ruled that the case should be referred to the European Union’s Court of Justice (ECJ). In September 2015, the Advocate General to the ECJ said that MUP could only be justified to protect public health if no alternative measures - such as tax increases - could be found. However the ECJ said this was a matter for the Scottish Courts to decide. In October 2016, the Scottish Court of Session upheld its earlier decision to refuse the SWA’s petition for a judicial review. In November 2016, the SWA announced that it would appeal to the Supreme Court. On 15 November 2017, the Supreme Court said that the 2012 Act did not breach EU law and that minimum pricing was “a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim”.

2.2 MUP introduced (May 2018) Following the Supreme Court’s judgment, the Scottish Government went ahead with its plans to introduce MUP.