The Minister for Health, Mr Martin appealed to off licences not to stock controversial vodka sachets which hit the Irish market today.
Mr Martin joined the growing protest against the sachets, which contain a 30 ml shot of the spirit.
The controversial product was unveiled in Ireland yesterday by the Dublin-based Little Drinks Company, which claims it promotes responsible drinking.
But there are fears that the product, called Vodka Bullseye Baggies and costing €1.50 per bag, may lead to an increase in underage drinking as it can easily be concealed from a parent or person in charge of youth entertainment events.
"I am very concerned about the vodka sachets and would regard it as an unacceptable development," Mr Martin said today. "It runs counter to attempts to combat underage drinking."
The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, said he was "very concerned" at the arrival of the product into the Irish market and that he planned to discuss it with the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, and the drinks trade. The issue of regulation will also be considered, a spokesperson from the Department of Justice said.
The National Off-Licence Association, which represents independent off-licences nation-wide this afternoon requested its members to refuse to stock or sell the vodka bags.
The Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) said earlier that it has serious concerns about the product. The VFI, which represents 6,000 rural publicans, said it would be against stocking the product and will be advising its members on the matter.
The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), which represents 1,000 hotels and guesthouses throughout Ireland, also expressed concerns over the sachets
The president of the IHF, Mr Richard Bourke said the sachet will "exacerbate the problem of under age and binge drinking". He called on IHF members not to stock the product or similarly packaged products on their premises.
In a statement to ireland.comtoday, VFI President Mr Seamus O'Donoghue said: "We have not yet seen the products firsthand but they would appear to fit into the category of drinks that we actively and strongly discourage our members from stocking.
"As publicans we promote sensible drinking, in moderation, and have already called for an outright ban on shot-type drinks.
"The industry now has a very strict code on products such as this, and it will be checked against the code. The VFI has worked hard to prevent the introduction of certain drinks that are clearly targeting young people and does not endorse the practice of deep discounting or drinks promotions that might encourage binge or excessive drinking," he said.
The Chairman of the Vintners Federation in Galway, Mr Paul O'Grady, earlier today called on the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, to make an order banning the product before it reaches off-licenses.