Sir, – A worrying report by the Irish Health Research Board reveals that the Irish delude themselves on their personal drinking habits (“177,000 dependent drinkers in Ireland”, June 24th).
To counter this threat to the nation’s health, one answer is to mount a long-term strategy of “fighting fire with fire”.
To change the Irish drinking culture requires a similar advertising budget to that deployed by the alcohol drinks industry itself over the past 50 years.
Government should levy a special charge on the industry’s products in the next budget and ring-fence this for a minimum period of five years.
All of this money should be spent in a creative way to inform, educate and, most importantly of all, change attitudes and behaviour, particularly among the young Irish.
This expert report by the Irish Health Research Board now requires the strongest of responses to address the threat hidden in our society.
The fear of citizens is that this wishy-washy Government will once again capitulate to the the drinks industry lobbyists, thereby allowing future generations to become enslaved to this liquid drug. – Yours, etc,
MIKE PARLE,
Highfield Park,
Leixlip,
Co Kildare.