Fianna Fáil wants to make off-licences more expensive.
It wants to add 90c to a bottle of wine - and 25c to a can of beer - to raise funds for suicide prevention.
It says the new tax could raise up to €200 million a year to fund the National Office of Suicide Prevention.
Senator Marc MacSharry says it's up to politicians to come up with novel ideas for raising the money needed to combat suicide.
"This is an area that ultimately society must deal with," he said,
"As politicians we're all too quick to participate in the rhetoric of inaction.
"This is now a proposal to legislate for the provision of the appropriate funds ot give the experts the correct structure and resources THEY need to be able to win this battle."
A bill containing the levy will go to the Seanad on Wednesday afternoon.
