Tax increase urged to combat 'handbag drinking'

The Restaurants Association has today urged the Government to combat the below-cost selling of alcohol.

The group says that cheap drink is encouraging a culture of "handbag drinking".

Spokesperson Adrian Cummins said that any increase in excise duty should be levied towards the sale of cheap alcohol.

"Drink culture has changed dramatically over the last number of years, with people buying cheap alcohol, bringing it home, drinking it, bringing it out with them in their handbags, and adding Coke or 7up into the alcohol when they arrive into a premises, and that needs to be addressed," he said.

"I think it's time that the Government should tackle the below-cost sale of alcohol once and for all."