There are big changes coming in terms of the price of alcohol outside of licensed premises following the approval of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 yesterday. Health Minister Leo Varadkar was granted the approval for the bill which aims to set a minimum price for alcohol sales. According to The Irish Independent, the Department of Health hopes to introduce a minimum price of between 9 to 11 cents per gram of alcohol. This increase will have a significant effect on the price we are paying outside of licensed premises, with prices rising to €1.80 for a can of beer or €7.20 for a bottle of wine if at the 9 cents mark. At the 11 cents per gram costing, these would rise to €2.20 and €8.80. “The days of 15 cans or bottles of beer being sold for €15 is a thing of the past,” said Minister Varadkar. “Most Irish adults drink too much and many drink dangerously,” he continued. “This has an enormous impact on our society and economy through greater illness and higher health costs, public order and violent offences, road traffic collisions, injuries and absence from work. “It is also associated with many suicides and instances of sexual violence, domestic violence and child harm. “The time for debate is over, we have had four years of it now,” he said. “It is over and we need to put those measures into place.” The measures may also include warning labels on bottles and cans.