title: Potential Impact of Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol in Ireland: Evidence from the National Alcohol Diary Survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  One of the main provisions of the Irish Public Health (Alcohol) Bill is the introduction of a minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol in Ireland, set at €1.00/standard drink. We sought to identify who will be most affected by the introduction of a MUP, examining the relationship between harmful alcohol consumption, personal income, place of purchase and price paid for alcohol.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nationally representative survey of 3187 respondents aged 18-75 years, completing a diary of their previous week's alcohol consumption. The primary outcome was purchasing alcohol at <€1.00/standard drink; secondary outcome was purchasing alcohol at <€1.00/standard drink off-sales. Primary exposures were harmful alcohol consumption (AUDIT-C > 5), low personal annual income (<€20,000) and place of purchase (off- or- on-sales).
  
  
  RESULTS
  One in seven respondents (14%) spent <€1.00/standard drink, with a median spend of 0.78/standard drink. High-risk drinkers (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.09-2.23), men (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.43-2.66), people on low income (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.20-2.23) and those purchasing alcohol off-sales (OR 21.9, 95% CI 12.5-38.1) were most likely to report purchasing alcohol at <€1.00/standard drink. Forty-four per cent of alcohol consumed was purchased off-sales. Of those purchasing off-sales, 30% bought cheap alcohol. High-risk drinkers, men and those on low income were most likely to report paying < €1.00/standard drink off-sales.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Heavy drinkers, men and those on low income seek out the cheapest alcohol. The introduction of a MUP in Ireland is likely to target those suffering the greatest harm, and reduce alcohol-attributable mortality in Ireland. Further prospective studies are needed to monitor consumption trends and associated harms following the introduction of minimum unit pricing of alcohol.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Ardilaun House, 111 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland gcousins@rcsi.ie.
authors.forename: Gráinne
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cousins
authors.affiliation: Health Research Board , Ireland.
authors.forename: Deirdre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mongan
authors.affiliation: Population Health Medicine, Trinity College Dublin , Ireland.
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Bobby
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.affiliation: National Social Inclusion Office, Health Services Executive, Ireland.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rackard
authors.affiliation: Health Research Board , Ireland.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Long
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires