Sir, – We as public health doctors wish to raise serious concerns around the proposed extension of licensing hours for pubs and clubs.
The goal of the 2018 Public Health Alcohol Act was to reduce alcohol-associated harm in Ireland, and this proposal is completely at odds with this. Ireland currently has one of the highest levels of per capita alcohol consumption in the EU, and this proposal will only serve to exacerbate the harms already caused by alcohol here.
Alcohol-related conditions have trebled since the 1990s, with the increase in liver disease most pronounced in those aged 15 to 34, the primary target demographic of the Irish nightlife scene. We have seen arguments put forward that people drink to excess at home anyway, and would be better off drinking in a more regulated setting. However, previous research has shown that increasing trading hours results in increased alcohol consumption, with a resultant increase in alcohol-associated harms, including unintentional injury and alcohol-related hospital admissions.
Alcohol already causes an average of three deaths a day in Ireland and places a growing burden on our healthcare system. These proposed changes will inevitably result in further unnecessary harm and loss of life and we urge further consideration of the public health consequences of this proposed change in legislation. – Yours, etc,
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Dr MARIA DEERY,
Dr FIONA CIANCI,
Dr FIONNUALA COONEY,
Dr MARY WARD,
Dr RUTH McDERMOTT,
Department of Public Health,
Dr Steevens’ Hospital
Dublin 8.
Sir, – I live on Harcourt Street in Dublin and I sincerely hope the local late-night bars avail of the new 6am closing-time licence.
Instead of customers leaving and walking the street at 3am, they will now do it at 6am. While I have never understood the reason why people have to scream, sing and shout their way home at 3am, I will be delighted if they do it at 6am and provide me with an alarm clock service! – Yours, etc,
JAMES O’SULLIVAN,
Dublin 2.
Sir, – Some of your recent correspondents are worried that the new changes to Irish licensing laws will result in a significant increase in the amount of alcohol consumed by young people. They clearly haven’t seen the price of a pint in a nightclub lately. – Yours, etc,
ALAN EUSTACE,
Magdalen College,
Oxford, UK.