Health Minister Simon Harris has proposed the introduction of minimum pricing in a bid to curb the bulk buying of cheap drink.
Meanwhile Alcohol Action Ireland says Ireland has a significant crisis with booze, with many people favouring strong and cheap drinks.
Waterford based counsellor Willie Collins says minimum pricing is just one aspect of dealing with the problem.
"I think there has to be more careful availability for alcohol, certainly for young people," he says.
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Another issue, he says, is "the normalisation of drink from parents who want to be their children's friends rather than parents," and that parents should not, "shove the responsibility of good behaviour for their children onto the state."
