Yesterday, the government published new legislation aimed at tackling the abuse of alcohol in the state, with new laws setting minimum prices. There will also be restrictions on advertising and alcohol products will be required to carry warning labels.

The range of measures is part of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015, an initiative designed to reduce the country’s alcohol consumption to OECD averages within five years.

“Most Irish adults drink too much and many drink dangerously,” health minister Leo Varadkar said.

“This has an enormous impact on our society and economy through greater illness and higher health costs, public order and violent offences, road traffic collisions, injuries and absence from work. It is also associated with many suicides and instances of sexual violence, domestic violence and child harm,” he added.

The new legislation will make it illegal to sell alcohol at “very cheap” prices, as regulate labelling of calorie counts on bottles and cans. Supermarkets will now have to sell alcohol in separate areas from other products, and Environmental Health Officers will be given the power to check retailers are adhering to the rules.

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