Minimum unit pricing aims to reduce alcohol-related illness and death, as it has done in other countries – but its efficacy here is likely to be tested by everything from legal challenges to cross-border shopping

Leo Varadkar said that when he first introduced minimum unit pricing as Minister for Health, he intended that it would be introduced at the same time in Northern Ireland.

Coalition aims to introduce new pricing laws in January despite concerns it may fuel the cross-border alcohol trade

Coalition to introduce minimum unit pricing within weeks, but drinks industry says move should not go ahead until there is a similar law in Northern Ireland