Campaigners in Ireland have welcomed the decision by Scottish judges to reject an appeal against minimum unit pricing.

Plans for a minimum alcohol price have suffered a setback after the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled similar plans in Scotland would breach EU law if less restrictive tax measures could be introduced.

Alcohol Action Ireland has called on the Government to prioritise the health of children and not to pass the alcohol industry’s self-regulatory codes into law.

The new laws setting out a minimum price for alcohol have been broadly welcomed both by campaigners and drinks industry groups.

"A win for the craft brewing industry but not the slam-dunk we would have liked."

More than half of Irish drinkers — almost 1.4m people — consume alcohol in a "harmful" manner, yet 98% believe they are "light or moderate drinkers".

Alcohol industry representatives have described as “punitive” and “short-sighted” increases in beer, wine and spirits in Budget 2014.

Ireland operates as a “conveyor belt” for the alcohol industry with 60,000 children starting to drink every single year, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

The Irish drinks industry is a hugely important part of the Irish economy: exporting high-quality branded products worth over €1.26bn per annum; employing over 62,000 people countrywide; providing over €2bn in value add to the Irish economy; while consumers of Irish alcohol products contribute over €1.8bn through taxation to the Irish exchequer.

The Department of Justice accused two drinks’ industry groups involved in a Government alcohol strategy committee of trying to “undermine” its final report.

Two organisations associated with the drinks industry rejected assertions they intended to undermine the report of the Government-appointed expert group on alcohol.

A minister has said it was “not practical in the foreseeable future” to ban sports sponsorship by the alcohol industry.

A group representing the drinks industry sought to alter paragraphs and remove figures on alcohol-related rape and domestic violence from a special report shaping Government policy.

IN his foreword in the National Substance Misuse Strategy steering group report, released last February, group chairman Dr Tony Holohan spoke of Ireland’s “long and sometimes difficult association with alcohol”.

Sparks flew at the launch of a Government expert group’s report on alcohol, as representatives of the drinks industry accused the group of “effectively suppressing” its views and labelled members of being “ideologically prejudiced”.

The Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland (ABFI) has said that a report released today on how to reduce the alcohol intake in Ireland is "a missed opportunity" to address the issue of alcohol misuse.

A GOVERNMENT minister hopes to end the sale of cheap drink by imposing a minimum price on top of taxes and excise duties.

THE Government should bring in minimum prices for alcohol or raise taxes on it, Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) has said.

A STAGGERING 10% of Irish shopppers will be heading north to buy alcohol by the end of the year, it has emerged.

SHOPPERS heading North for wine and spirits means the Revenue’s excise take on alcohol is down more than €31 million this year.

THE Government’s decision to combine alcohol with illegal drugs in one strategy reflected the reality on the ground, Minister of State John Curran said yesterday.

Four night spots were slammed today when a drinks promotion featuring scantily clad images of women was found to suggest sexual prowess.

Drinks representatives today urged the Government to roll-out pregnancy warnings and unit information on alcohol products.

The decision of the Minister for Finance to reduce the excise on low-strength beer and cider is a vital step in growing the categories, according to Rosemary Garth, Director of the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland (ABFI).

The Irish Wine Association, while recognising the difficult circumstances facing the Minister, has expressed disappointment at the 25% increase in excise duty on wine announced in today’s Budget.

The drinks industry claimed today it was suffering losses as thrifty shoppers headed north to buy cheaper drink.

THE number of Irish shoppers crossing the border for cheap drink could grow if the Minister for Finance decides to pump up duties on alcohol in next month’s budget.