Published Monday, 30 January 2012
A minimum price for alcohol may not have a significant impact on problem drinker (© UTV)
A report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) states the measure could also hit jobs and trade in the region.
Plans laid out by the Executive aimed at tackling problem drinkers could see a minimum price of 40-50p per unit of alcohol introduced.
But the CEBR document said the measures could cost consumers £121m a year.
The centre's Benjamin Williamson said: "This report shows that the case for minimum pricing is extremely weak, it would not target problem drinkers and would have a genuine negative economic impact in terms of jobs, trade and costs to the consumer.
"There is no credible evidence demonstrating potential benefits from the introduction of minimum pricing."
The report said harmful drinkers would only reduce their consumption by less than two pints of weak beer per week if a minimum price of 50p per unit was introduced in Northern Ireland.
It stated that as a result, the expected benefits such as reductions in crime or improved health were overestimated.
The CEBR claimed the negative impact of minimum pricing like penalising moderate consumers, increased expenditure and the economic impact of cross-border trade in terms of job losses were ignored, adding the case for minimum pricing remained unproven.
A minimum price per unit of alcohol would have most impact in supermarkets, where discount selling is widespread, and would have the largest effect on cheap, strong drinks.
Supporters of a minimum price say there is strong international evidence that price is linked to consumption and higher consumption leads to higher harm. Health organisations say alcohol sold in shops has become steadily cheaper compared to incomes.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "The two departments continue working together on this issue and we are keen to assess in detail the potential impact of minimum unit pricing.
"We are therefore going to commission research to model the likely impact of minimum unit pricing in Northern Ireland, and this will help inform our future decisions in this area."
A spokeswoman for the British Medical Association of doctors said the cost to society of alcohol misuse in Northern Ireland is estimated to be £679.8 million.
"Excessive alcohol consumption costs to the health service in Northern Ireland may be as high as around £160 million each year with a further cost of £82 million to social services," she added.
"In human terms, excessive alcohol consumption costs 266 lives and 140,000 sick days."