A bottle of wine would cost a minimum of €8.80 and a can of beer at least €2.20 under proposals aimed at outlawing cheap alcohol sales.
The move is part of Health Minister Leo Varadkar's vow to end the sale of cheap drink, which he believes is fuelling the nation's drink problem.
Cigarette packet-style health warnings and calorie counts on alcohol labels would also be made compulsory under new legislation.
Mr Varadkar got Cabinet approval yesterday for the Heads of the proposed Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015, which will set a minimum price for drink sales.
The legislation, due this summer, will mean new restrictions on advertising, marketing and sponsorship.
Environmental health officers will be given strong powers of enforcement.
But the law stops short of banning drinks sponsorship of sporting events.
The Irish Independent understands the Department of Health is examining introducing a minimum price of between 9c and 11c per gram of alcohol. That means the minimum cost of an unit of alcohol - about half a pint of beer or a small glass of wine - will be set between 90c and €1.10.
If the higher price is imposed, it means a bottle of wine could not be legally sold for less than €8.80 and a can of beer for €2.20.
Source: Eilish O'Regan, Irish Independent, 04/02/15
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