Tax on a bottle of wine

Errmm you just claimed this:
"the research from Scotland and elsewhere is clear that MUP has significant public health benefits."
You made strong claims with no sources. You then quoted some random Scottish document which I had never mentioned and incorrectly claimed it was what I was referring to.

Here are some examples of peer-reviewed evidence in favour of MUP:
 
MUP is completely ridiculous. A bonus for retailers in that they get to pocket a higher price for the lower end products. A bonus for wealthier people in that price competition in the slightly higher bracket is heightened. And the real loser is the person on the lower wage who wants to enjoy a bottle of wine or a beer with their family or friends.
 
MUP was a creative way by government to raise alcohol prices and stop the loss leader practices. Adding another €1 via excise would of have less of an effect.
It wasn't creative they just copied the Scots who now say that MUP has had no effect on alcohol abuse. The gross stupidity of the policy and the horrendous timing meant that this policy pushed Ireland to the top of the EU price league. It was such a huge jump in pricing that it was like rocket fuel underneath the inflation rate, that alone should have kiboshed MUP altogether
 

 


"Ireland one of the cheapest!!!"


Ireland always had high prices, partly due to high excise duty rates, and now has very high prices.


I recall seeing 50cl cans of own-brand beer in ALDI and Lidl in Germany for sale at 29c maybe five years ago.

Today, 50cl bottles of Karlskrone pils are 45 cent:



Here are more prices:


vodka = 5.49
whiskey = 7.49
 
It doesn't take much effort for someone to pick up cans of beer at €2 or a bottle of wine from €8 up. Alcohol isn't a necessity but a luxury item to most. Minimum wage hits €12.70 next year.

Cups of coffee on the other hand has shot up in price in the last few years.

Loaves of bread not far off €3 in places. Maybe it's these prices we need to keep more of an eye on than the cost of a can.
 
It wasn't creative they just copied the Scots who now say that MUP has had no effect on alcohol abuse.
The latest data show it has been successful and has had the biggest effect in the most deprived groups.

There has been a 13% reduction in deaths due to alcohol consumption and a 4% decrease in hospitalisations wholly attributable to alcohol consumption. This is taking other factors into account, including lockdown.

"The greatest improvements were in the four most socioeconomically deprived deciles, indicating that the policy is positively tackling deprivation-based inequalities in alcohol-attributable health harm." (Wyper et al, 2023)


Where are the reports showing the effect of MUP on inflation in Ireland? What are the actual numbers?

Beyond the headline, the article makes no further mention of the alleged effects on food so I dug around and found the original paper for this. The reduction in food spending was only 1% and the reduction in food volume was just 0.8%. A completely misleading headline.
 

Minimum alcohol price ‘causes poorest to cut back on food’ in Scotland​

If people are prioritising alcohol over feeding themselves then they have an alcohol addiction issue.
That headline is a strong argument in favour of making alcohol less accessible.
 
You can get own brand loaf of bread for €1 thereabouts.

A cup of coffee - I assume you mean from a coffee shop on the go - "isn't a necessity but a luxury to most".

No reason why we can't keep an eye on the cost of both.
 
How has that worked for those with drug addiction issues? Making it 'less accessible' is just inconveniencing the responsible drinker for no gain. If someone is addicted they will pay the price.
 
How has that worked for those with drug addiction issues?
Measures that impact affordability are not intended to address people with dependencies, rather they are a disincentive to others developing a dependency in the first place. The more interesting aspect will be to assess how this affects the numbers of people with alcohol dependencies over time.
 
True, but I was responding to the specific point about those already with an addiction and how they respond to MUP.

Also, alcohol consumption is on a downward trajectory here, imo it doesn't need an interventionist measure like MUP which impacts huge numbers of moderate drinkers and is anti-competitive.
 
Also, alcohol consumption is on a downward trajectory here, imo it doesn't need an interventionist measure like MUP which impacts huge numbers of moderate drinkers and is anti-competitive.
I can't see you buying cheap wine. It just doesn't fit my picture of you.
 
I can't see you buying cheap wine. It just doesn't fit my picture of you.
Hah... Tesco had a €5 robust \ rustic Shiraz that was perfect as a cooking wine.
I picked up the last bottles of it for €2 in the sell off of the cheapest lines pre-MUP, but that was a once off.
Before the government lobbed their extra taxes on wine pre-MUP (blatantly cos it was an import) Tesco had a €5 French rose from Gascony that was as good as one twice the price from Provence, and a ruby port for €8.50 from Symingtons.

I'd also pickup cheap brandy \ whiskey for making a hot toddy type drink.
 
I don't know but I suspect that making drugs cheaper and more available doesn't help them either.


That's true but as @Leo pointed out that's not the point.
Ok I misread you , I thought you meant current addicts - my replies consider both current and future scenarios.

The same government bringing in MUP also wants to extend opening hours for pubs and nightclubs.
They aren't really making alcohol less accessible, this is all about directing you to buy it from the on trade. It is all about money.
 
You're dead to me now