The Vintners Federation of Ireland is welcoming indications the government will press ahead with minimum unit alcohol pricing.
It was set to be introduced at the same time as Stormont.
However with the political deadlock in the North, the Health Minister is set to proceed with the legislation south of the border.
Retailers fear it could lead to an increase in consumers travelling to the North to shop.
However, CEO of the Vintners Federation of Ireland, Padraig Cribben says the move is needed to deal with the below-cost sale of drink.
"We have been campaigning for a decade now for minimum unit pricing and we think it is now time to move ahead and put it in place because there is no other remedy to the way the retail trade, particularly the big supermarkets, are operating," he said.
