Report: Govt to increase drink prices to curb teen drinking

The cost of alcohol is set to go up in the coming months in order to curb its sale to teenagers and problem drinkers, according to a report in The Sunday Times.

The newspaper reports that the Government wants to double the cost of the cheapest cans of beer and add €4 to the price of a bottle of own-brand vodka.

The Junior Health Minister Róisín Shorthall is said to be considering imposing a 55 cent per unit 'floor' for alcohol.

It would make it illegal to sell a 500 millilitre can of beer for less than €1.10c, or a bottle of red wine for less than €4.40c.

It is in a bid to tackle the €3.7bn annual cost to the State of alcohol abuse.