Top french wines ahead of Public Health Bill debate

The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill is due to be debated in Dáil in the coming weeks with the Government determined to have it passed (or substantially progressed) in the Autumn session. The bill will introduce minimum pricing, health labelling (eg, calories), restrict advertising and sponsorship and force shops to separate alcohol from other products, writes Leslie Williams. 

The good news is that most people reading this have nothing to fear. The minimum price for wine will be around €7 so the bill will not impact on moderate drinkers. A ban on selling alcohol for less than it costs would be even more welcome as this practice gives multiples an unfair advantage over independents. Importers will be inconvenienced by the new labelling but I’m hoping there will be flexibility — shops could be allowed apply general health labels for example.

What we really need of course is a reduction on excise, given that we have the highest wine taxes in the EU. Imagine if France or Italy taxed Irish butter so that it cost €15? Yet a wine costing €2 at cellar door could cost more than €15 here after we add excise, VAT and transport, etc.