A Catholic bishop has welcomed comments by Minister of State Alex White earlier this month that, when it came to selling alcohol, “the biggest concern is marketing that is visible to children and young people”.
Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin Eamonn Walsh said yesterday that “society has to find imaginative ways of protecting children from being used as drinks advertisements on sports jerseys.
“Only a strong public determination will enable legislators to tackle the many vested interests which gain from this and other similar practices.
“We all need to put our shoulder to the wheel and add real weight to the Minister’s pledge to address minimum pricing for alcohol products and to curb gradually their corporate sponsorship in sport,” Dr Walsh added.
The bishop was speaking in Dublin at the launch of a prayer book for those afflicted with addiction by the Irish Bishops Drugs Initiative.
The prayer book is intended as “a pastoral and spiritual resource” for people with alcohol, drug or any other addiction.
It is available at irishbishopsdrugsinitiative.com
