Ministers close to deal on tackling under-age drinking

Banning the sale of cheap booze will not increase the cost of alcohol for all drinkers, but will make it harder for young people to engage in dangerous binge drinking, according to Alex White, the junior health minister.

The Government is close to finalising a range of measures clamping down on what is often criticised as a culture of excessive drinking, including minimum pricing and changes to alcohol promotion and availability.

Ministers are close to agreement on the politically contentious question of whether to ban alcohol sponsorship for sporting events, which had been a source of disagreement between Mr White and Sports Minister Leo Varadkar.