The Minister for Health’s plans to set a minimum price for drinks in Ireland have today suffered a major setback, after the European Union’s highest court ruled that such proposals would breach European law.
In its ruling, the court stated that setting a minimum price for drinks is illegal in cases where a tax could be imposed instead.
The ruling has been issued a short time after Leo Varadkar published new legislation setting minimum prices of around €1.95 for a can of beer and €8.60 for a bottle of wine. Varadkar’s plans indicated a minimum price of 10c per gram of alcohol in alcohol products, with the goal of eliminating cheap alcohol from all stores and shops.
But since the measure would also affect imported drinks, the court deemed it to be unfair, as it would potentially restrict free trade for foreign drink companies.
It remains to be seen what the minister’s response to the ruling will be.