462. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will consider a health levy to be applied to units of alcohol sold from off-licences [20997/11]

Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly): The matter of a Health Levy, and other levies similar to the one mentioned by the Deputy , together with policy development around a wide range of key issues pertaining to the supply, pricing, availability and marketing of alcohol and its consequent negative effects on society, involving prevention strategies, treatment, rehabilitation, alcohol and substance dependency research and information, are under consideration by the National Substance Misuse Strategy Steering Group (NSMSG). The report of the NSMSG is close to completion. I expect to receive proposals in the coming months, following which I will brief my colleagues in Government.