Health Minister Leo Varadkar has today unveiled strict new laws on alcohol pricing and advertising and what he described as "life-saving legislation." The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill was announced by Varadkar just after 2pm this afternoon (Wednesday) and details the government's crackdown on regulations surrounding alcohol. The Bill sets the minimum price of a 500 ml can of beer at €1.95 and the minimum for a bottle of wine is €8.63, in an effort to curb the availability of cheap alcohol products. This works out at roughly €1 per unit of alcohol, meaning a 700ml bottle of 40 per cent vodka will cost €28. The Bill will also see new laws around advertising, with a blanket ban on advertising alcohol products near schools, playgrounds or public transport, and a broadcasting watershed of 9pm. The Irish Cancer Society welcomed the Bill, with the charity’s head of advocacy and communications, Kathleen O’Meara saying: "The Bill contains targeted measures, including health labelling, minimum unit pricing and marketing restrictions, that will reduce the consumptions of those at greatest risk of harm, protect children from slick advertising and save lives."

BREAKING: 500ml can of 4,3% beer would cost €1.95 under new minimum pricing plans; bottle of wine would be at minimum €8.63

— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) December 9, 2015

Minimum alcohol pricing is established at 10c per gram of alcohol, which they say works out at €1 per unit of alcohol

— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) December 9, 2015

That'll be the death of the 24-can slab as we know it, I suspect. A continental-sized 330ml can would be €1.29, so a slab is just under €31

— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) December 9, 2015

 

At publication of Public Health (Alcohol) bill. An historic day. #AlcoholBill @campaignforleo @IrishCancerSoc pic.twitter.com/C9tDbUYoQJ

— Kathleen O'Meara (@GrainneWail) December 9, 2015

At the press conference for the public health alcohol bill.. Minister Leo varadka speaking now.. @campaignforleo pic.twitter.com/1FgiA7m1jI — Frances Black (@frances_black) December 9, 2015

Public Health (Alcohol) Bill will result in few suicides, fewer assaults, fewer people in EDs at weekends - Leo Varadkar. @IrelandLive

— Deborah Naylor (@DebsNaylor) December 9, 2015

@campaignforleo launching the Public Health (Alcohol) bill . A watershed moment @AlcoholIreland @RCPI_news pic.twitter.com/G0OlDSKIpX — Prof Joe Barry (@BarryProf) December 9, 2015