Government Doesn't Believe Minimum Alcohol Prices Will Encourage Shopping Across The Border

One in four non-COVID ICU beds over the past year have been needed for people with alcohol-related injuries.

The alarming stats come as the government has announced minimum unit pricing for alcohol.

The move will significantly increase the costs of non-brand or own-brand alcohol including cheap cans, bottles of wine and vodka.

Meanwhile, the government says it doesn't believe new minimum unit pricing for alcohol will lead to people heading to the North in large numbers to buy cheap drink.

Minister Stephen Donnelly says the government here wasn't willing to wait until at least 2023 to bring in the laws in tandem with Northern Ireland.

Minimum unit pricing will take effect here from January 2022.