Minimum alcohol pricing looks set to be introduced in NI

Minimum pricing for alcohol looks set to be introduced in Northern Ireland.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt is seeking the backing of his executive colleagues to bring the legislation to the assembly.

He told Stormont's Health Committee on Thursday that he had asked officials to progress work on the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol regulations.

Nesbitt said he wanted to work with the committee to help shape the new law.

"In particular, I would welcome your advice on where to fix any minimum price. It might be 50p, it might be 55p, it may be somewhere else," he told MLAs (assembly members).

"Figures indicate alcohol misuse costs Northern Ireland up to £900m a year, never mind the devastating impact on individuals, families and communities, and indeed the stress on the health service.

"In 2022, 356 people here died from alcohol-specific causes - that is the highest total on record," he said.

Alcohol-related deaths were up to five times higher in the most deprived areas of Northern Ireland, said the minister.

The Scottish Government introduced minimum alcohol pricing in 2018.

The minimum unit price had been 55p per unit, but was increased to 65p in April this year.

It means a 700ml bottle of whisky must sell for at least £18.20, a bottle of wine with 13% alcohol for £6.34 and four cans of beer for £5.72.

The Scottish government said there was strong evidence that minimum alcohol pricing helped reduce alcohol-related deaths and hospital admissions.

The Republic of Ireland's government introduced minimum unit pricing on alcohol in January 2022.

Nesbitt said the legislation would complement the Tobacco and Vapes Bill currently going through Westminster.

Minimum unit pricing (MUP) is not a tax and does not generate income for the government.

Instead it aims it to reduce the availability of cheap alcohol by setting a minimum price.

Before it was introduced in 2018, super strength cider (7.5%) was sold in two litres bottles for as little as £1.99.

After the legislation was introduced that same two litre bottle could not be sold for less than £7.50 because of the 50p minimum price for a unit of alcohol.

Under the new plans for a 65p minimum price it would be £9.75.

MUP was mainly aimed at strong cheap alcohol sold in shops and supermarkets.

It has had little effect on pubs and restaurants who already sold beer and wine for more than the minimum in most cases.