Reilly wants lower pub prices and higher off-sales prices

The Minister for Health James Reilly has not ruled out the introduction of a levy on alcohol.

The Alcohol Forum is calling for a new super levy on drink to clamp down on binge drinking and alcohol addiction in Ireland.

Minister Reilly says he is in favour of the minimum pricing of alcohol.

Dr Reilly said: "I would consider anything that would get us back to normalisation.

"Alcohol has a value, if it has a value at all, as a social lubricant. The current situation has the unintended consequences of people getting very intoxicated at home and then going out.

"I would much prefer to see that the price of alcohol in the pub should come down and the price of alcohol in the off licence and the big supermarkets should go way up."