Doctors say the government must oppose a call from publicans to reduce the tax on alcohol.

Pub operators say a 15% reduction in excise duty is needed, due to Brexit.

They claim the fall in the value of Sterling makes Ireland “a less attractive destination” for tourism – and that will hit pub sales.

But Professor Frank Murray, of the Royal College of Physicians says making alcohol cheaper is the last thing we need: “We’ve a crisis with alcohol, we have three deaths per day and terrible tragedies we see every single day in the hospitals, in the psychiatric hospitals, in general practice related to the catastrophic effects of alcohol in Ireland.”