The introduction of minimum pricing for alcohol will contribute to reducing the “huge” human and economic cost of alcohol related harm, it was claimed this week.

Evelyn Fanning of the HSE West’s health promotion department - who is the chairperson of the Galway Healthy Cities Alcohol Forum - explains that minimum pricing sets a price below which no alcohol beverage can be sold and is based on the amount of alcohol in a product measured in units or grams.

“It predominantly affects the price of cheaper alcohol sold off-trade (off licences, shops/supermarkets, petrol stations that are licensed to sell alcohol) which is now the biggest supplier of alcohol in the country.”

Galway Healthy Cities Alcohol Forum, Galway City Council and Galway City Joint Policing Committee are supporting the introduction of minimum pricing for alcohol as it recognises the need for national government to regulate issues regarding the supply of alcohol.

Galway was the first city in Ireland to develop a strategy to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm, its Healthy Cities Alcohol Forum has prepared a submission requesting the government to take urgent action to introduce minimum pricing.......