Alcohol. Doubling the price of cheap beer. Wonder will statistics be published to highlight whether or not the price increase theory was successful.

Any problem that is solved through greater taxation is not a real problem, its just an excuse for more state theft of individual wealth.

We already have the most expensive alcohol in Europe outside of Scandinavia -where the per capita income is significantly higher- increasing cost has only a negligible on consumption, it won’t stop teenagers being bored on weekends with nothing to do because our elected government would deign to serve the interests of an international financial capitalist elite rather than oh I don’t know, say maybe, just maybe, their own citizens (not that pre-crisis the last lot did anything along these lines either).

I like the odd bottle of tesco “ingredients: water, alcohol and gin flavouring” gin, I like the absurdly minimalist packaging, I like how it costs €11, and naturally enough, like most things I care for, the government despises it, like an existential Iago looking for new opportunities to ruin my life! Don’t pretend that they give a hoot
about “our children,” they just want to get their hands on more of that juicy, juicy euro so they can get off handing it over to the banks, receiving a nice pat on the head in exchange and maybe a signed photograph of Angela Merkel, we’re such a generous people.

The hypocrisy of this country each generation gets pissed as teenagers hanging around under bridges and alleyways, having fun and laughing, but ten years down the line when it’s THEIR children…

The government of this country has been “tackling” the alcohol problem by increasing the price since the state was founded, there is not the slightest bit of evidence that this will in any way tackle the problem or influence the amount of drink that is consumed by teenagers.
This piece of legislation is a demonstration of the utter incompetence stupidity and lack of understanding of the most basic problems. This government is behaving like a drug dealer / pimp that ups the price of his ware or beats up his girl to bring in more money to buy the latest bling.
The Alcohol problem should be tackled by the dept of health and the dept of education not finance, interestingly enough these departments have slashed their budgets and have difficulty providing even the most basic of their services.
The price increase will lead to increased revenue for H.M. Government in NI and a booming illegal alcohol trade. This government is an insult to the intelligence of the people of this country.

It’s amazing how the publicans are behind this idea, as if they have ever refused to serve drunks, alcoholics, underage or after hours. They just want their business back from the supermarkets.

Yet another tax, this government seems to love screwing the people because it knows no one will bother to protest. How many more taxes till the country shuts down. The three day week is on the way if oil prices shoot up which looks to be market speculators will hit next. Seen as the European crisis is semi solved by ECB printing and loaning left right and centre So the Iranians will be the cause of this crisis and something will have to be done ie conflict. The writing is on the wall so tax alcohol as we will all be getting drunk seen as we can’t travel to work. I don’t mean to be depressing it’s just a guess I might be wrong.

Maybe this will reduce alcohol related admissions to a&e? My friend is a junior doctor and says the number of under age alcohol related admissions takes up way too much resources. I know this price rise is unfair but there may be wider benefits to the tax payer in the long run such as a better healthcare service perhaps. Time will tell.

I don’t understand why underage drinking is now the issue? All excess alcohol consumption is a problem in this country. My issue is why the government think that by upping the price will solve this problem. Look at cigarette smoking.. They are astronomically priced and people still smoke. Illegal cigarettes are widespread. I believe this is just another taxation on the people…

Absurd and plainly another tax on the only pleasure we have , you can’t drink and drive for obvious reasons which has fueled home drinking , this just another tax and poor governance by this nanny state coalition .I predict teenagers will carry on regardless and adults too , i also predict the electoral destruction of the labour party after the next budget. If publicans think that this tax will have people flooding into pubs to pay 5 euro for a pint they are deluding themselves.

Thank goodness they have someone arrested for that poor mans murder …

There will be a small black market in booze created if taxes get too high on alcohol but I think many will accept the new status quo and possibly drink less, not teenagers or problem drinkers though.

I would also like to add that controversial comments are removed by thejournal staff, thyis kind of censorship is strange for a purported news organisation.

problem drinking ? if people drink to sort out their problems now they will still do it when price increases! As will teenagers! Lame excuse for getting more revenue !

Right, time to start learning how to make my own beer!

Its all politics.
The politicians can point po faced at the price increase and say ‘look, I am doing something about teenage drinking! Look at meeee arent i goood! Its the oldest trick in the book from the lamest politicians. Theyre doing the same with the drink driving laws and increased penalty points, while cutting garda resources so those same laws will not be enforced nearly enough.

No-one has mentioned home brew kits?!?!?! betcha we see an upsurge in their use!! Heck if it came down to it, I wouldn’t be surprised if Revenue start saying they are finding more home stills in a years time!

If “teenage” drinking is the problem, either increase the age limit in relation to purchasing alcohol or prosecute vendors who sell to underage kids. This is just another form of tax under the guise of we are looking after your health.

This is complete and utter Bullshit. As is clearly evident teen drinking and drug-abuse has become one of the most serious problems in society over the last 20 years. It is a disgrace that these ignorant assholes not only do Nothing to combat the principle reasons for this, but claim every now and again that a price-hike in off-licence alcohol is their way of tackling it (not mentioning the Vintners’ association’s influence of course). How much more Shit are we going to take before we actually stand up for ourselves? (Excuse the language!)

Surely this has to be against some EU law on pricing. I buy four pack of Karpackie beer on a Friday to sit in and watch t.v. because it’s cheep and tastes all right but if they bring it up to the price of say bud they might as well take it of the shelf or bring up the price of bud proportionally. I think it’s funny because there will probably be more protests about this than the austerity measures.

True to form our clown coalition (and successive governments) fail to grasp the reality of the situation hoping that their latest round of fail will buck the historical trend.
History has proven that long term austerity does not work, taxing your way out recession does not work and adding a price rise to alcohol does not dissuade people from drinking, it’s bullshit.
Maybe a bit more education and provision of social care to people who drink underage but thanks to the incompetence and desire of our government to pander to the banks any such services are being cut so their plan B is to try put alcohol out of the price range of those affected – or that’s what they tell us…such nonsense.

Anyway – it’s unlawful to drink under the age of 18 so why not get the Gardai to police this further….oh yeah,……cuts to the police force..smh.

Where are all these teenagers getting money for booze. I’m broke from buying petrol for my car so I can’t afford to drink. Maybe the state should give all teenagers a car and this use up all their disposable income on that.

Pubs are losing out to off licences and supermarkets.
The publicans are not happy.
Dozens of TDs are publicans, or are related to publicans.

Hi. My name is Terry and I’m not a rocket scientist.