Women can buy a ‘fatal’ amount of alcohol for less than €5.50

Women in Ireland can buy enough alcohol to cause a fatal overdose with less than €6, according to a new report.

Shoppers can purchase 11 units, the HSE's low-risk weekly threshold for a female, for as little as €5.49. You can purchase 17 units, which is the guideline for men, for just €8.49, the report showed. Cider drinks are the cheapest, strongest alcohol products available to buy, followed by beer products and then wine and spirits like vodka and gin. A standard drink of cider can be bought for less than 50c, while a drink of beer can be bought for less than 51c. Meanwhile it's around 56c for the cheapest standard drink of wine, 61c for a standard drink of gin, 62c for a standard drink of vodka and 74c for a standard drink of whiskey. The research was carried out across four locations in Ireland over seven days in July for Alcohol Action Ireland's annual alcohol market review. The group has called for minimum pricing for alcohol as soon as possible. Implementing the much-debated Public Health Alcohol Bill, which allows for minimum unit pricing, will help to ensure that "the low cost of the strongest, cheapest alcohol will be tackled," Alcohol Action Ireland said.