The federal government is considering raising the price of cheap grog to discourage dangerous drinking.
Labor's National Preventative Health Taskforce last year recommended developing the case for a minimum price for alcohol to promote safer drinking.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon at the time asked the agency to investigate the proposal of setting a floor price per standard drink.
The issue is in the spotlight again this week after Prime Minister Julia Gillard visited Alice Springs and met with Aboriginal elders concerned about problem drinking.
Cheap wine can be purchased in the town for around 25 cents a standard drink. That's a lot cheaper than beer which can be had for around $1.20 a drink.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
Ms Roxon said on Wednesday a minimum alcohol price was still being considered.
"But the government has not made a decision," she told ABC Radio.
"That plan still needs to be considered by all the states and territories, so it's a very preliminary step, but I think it is an important one."
The health minister said setting an alcohol floor price was very different to an alcohol tax.
"It's just about making sure that extremely cheap alcohol cannot be sold," she said.
"It's not something that applies to every bit of alcohol that is sold, in the way that a change to the tax system would."
