Tom McGurk: Alcohol bill will give us the measure of Varadkar

As minister for health, Leo Varadkar introduced the alcohol bill. That legislation is crawling slowly through the Dáil. As Taoiseach, will he finally see it passed?

Under minimum pricing, an own-brand bottle of vodka would rise from about €7 to over €20 and cheap wine is likely to rise by €1 to €2 per bottle.

Who do you think would oppose a piece of legislation going through the Dáil that is supported by the HSE and a massive range of doctors, medical professionals, researchers, community groups and charities?

The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill is supported by, among others, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, the Irish Cancer Society, the Irish Heart Foundation, the National Youth Council of Ireland, the ISPCC, the Samaritans, the National Women’s Council of ...