The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) broadly welcomes the measures announced by Minister for Health Leo Varadkar and signed off by Cabinet today. Crucially, the Minster has addressed the issues of availability, price, information and display. However, the VFI is calling on the Minster to ensure that the specific aspects referring to the Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol are clarified as soon as possible such as the actual minimum price level and when he intends to implement this new legislation.

Noreen O’Sullivan, President of the VFI said; “The proposals contained in the Heads of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 are long overdue. The VFI, as a key industry stakeholder, has called for action to ensure the safe and responsible sale of alcohol for several years.

“We broadly welcome the steps taken by Minister Varadkar and agree that any long term strategic approach to tackling alcohol misuse must address the core issues of availability, promotion and price. What we need now is for the Minister to ensure he gives further clarity and sets the minimum price level and implementation date.

“Finally, the Minister rightly refers to the need to structurally separate alcohol from other products in supermarkets. We call on the Department of Justice to speedily commence Section 9 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008, which caters for this structural separation.”

Notes to Editors:
The VFI was established in 1973 from smaller associations for the protection and betterment of the livelihood of the individual publican.
The VFI has approximately 4,200 members and is a firmly established strong national trade organisation.

For further information:
www.vfi.ie
Michael O’Keeffe
PSG Communications
087 885 4072
Dan O’Neill
PSG Communications
087 123 2182