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A recent Alcohol and Drugs Strategy, undertaken in 2019, indicated that alcohol-related deaths were on the rise in Northern Ireland. Meanwhile, alcohol-related admissions to hospitals here also increased from 9,573 in 2008/09 to 11,636 in 2016/17.
Health minister, Robin Swann, said: “The impact alcohol has on our health service is clear and we must try to address the issue.
“I have been closely following the Scottish government introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing on Alcohol since 2018 and have been noting with interest the early positive evaluation reports.
“My department has been working in conjunction with key stakeholders on developing a new substance use strategy and this will be issued for public consultation later this year.
“As part of the strategy, there will be a commitment to holding a full public consultation on the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol in Northern Ireland within one year.”
In response to the announcement, Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK, said: “Alcohol harm costs Northern Ireland £900m a year. By implementing MUP to raise the price of the very cheapest and strongest drinks on the market, the devastating impact of alcohol harm on families and communities across Northern Ireland can be reduced.
“MUP already exists in both Scotland and Wales and legislation has passed for its introduction in the Republic of Ireland. England now risks being left behind in the race to tackle the alcohol harm crisis. More than 24,000 people die in England every year from alcohol-related causes with those from the poorest backgrounds being disproportionately affected. It is time for Westminster to step up and prove it takes our nation’s health seriously by implementing MUP as a matter of urgency.”
