Sir, - It is great to be able to applaud those in power for having exercised their power well. The Minister of State for Labour, Transport and Consumer Affairs is to be commended for having looked at the sale of alcopops. Dothain commends him, but questions the effectiveness of the proposed measures. What real good effect will accrue to a vulnerable youth by the strength of the alcohol content being stated on a bottle? And what advantage is there in forbidding firms to "encourage consumption, purchase or sale to under-18s" - which is already illegal and yet widely practised?
The recent statement afforded a photo-call and PR opportunity for a drinks firm representative to gain the kudos of appearing responsible about the sale of the drug alcohol. Some months back, another drinks spokesman berated the same Minister's ideas as "self-promotion". "Self-promotion" is good!
In hard fact, this whole exercise is akin to removing a tumour from a gangrened limb. The real and huge problem still lies unaddressed. Mr Kitt's more powerful colleagues - in Justice, Health, Education, Youth, Environment - have done, and still do, nothing about it. Smoking, yes; heart disease, yes; AIDS, yes; road-deaths, yes; pollution, yes. But abuse of the drug alcohol, no!
Can anyone inside the Oireachtas say what is the reason for this blind spot? Is it money (such as £800 million a year in excise income)? Or is it fear of unpopularity for living up to a clear responsibility? - Yours, etc.,
(Dr) Michael Loftus and Leon O Morchain,
Dothain, Crossmolina, Co Mayo.