Ireland unveils minimum alcohol price plan to reduce drinking

Musicians play Irish traditional music in a pub in central Dublin November 21, 2010. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton

DUBLIN (Reuters) - The Irish government, aiming to change the country's "damaging attitude to alcohol", approved on Wednesday plans for minimum prices for drinks in the hope of reducing one of Europe's highest levels of alcohol consumption.

A bill to be submitted to parliament later this month would set a minimum of 10 euro cents per gram of alcohol, ban cut-price marketing, restrict "happy hours" and prohibit advertising for drinks near schools, playgrounds and public transport, a health ministry statement said.