IF IT helps to shame this Government into protecting society, last week’s report on binge drinking by the Health Research Board (HRB) will have been worthwhile. Researchers found that “enormous damage” is being caused to family life by an explosive binge drinking culture and that there is no political will to tackle the problem.
At a time when the drinks industry is campaigning aggressively for a reduction in excise duties in the Budget, it is time to shout stop. This responsibility falls not just on Government Ministers and backbenchers but on members of opposition parties as well. We witnessed the power of the publicans’ lobby last month when Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey moved to save lives on the road by reducing alcohol limits for drink-driving motorists. Fianna Fáil TDs, under pressure in their constituencies, threatened revolt. It was only when the opposition parties formally supported the legislation that it was accepted. Even now, enforcement of the new alcohol limit will not take place until 2011.
We are sleep-walking towards disaster. A succession of high-level health conferences and social reports has charted our progress on a downward, destructive path during the past decade. But the warnings did not make it past the Cabinet door. The last budget increase on beer took place 15 years ago. Now, as incomes and consumption rates fall, a cut in excise duty is demanded. Rather than go down that road, the Government should give thanks that, in at least one respect, economic circumstances are helping to protect society.
HRB researchers found that the incidence of drunkenness, assaults and public order offences rose by almost one-third in the four years to 2007. More than 13,000 of these Garda-registered offences involved minors, under the age of 18 years, who should not have been served alcohol in the first place. That is not the worst of it. The social harm caused within families by excessive drinking will have long-term consequences for young children. As things stand, one in five of those questioned reported that binge drinking had led them into fights and argument; had harmed friendships and home life and disrupted work or study.
We are facing a drugs-related epidemic that is threatening terrible social and economic harm. Binge drinking has become pervasive. The HRB recommends that a minimum price be set per alcohol unit sold in all shopping outlets. It also calls for the drafting of a proper national alcohol policy. That sounds like a reasonable approach.