Madam, - The Minister for Justice's stated intention to tackle the problem of binge drinking is welcome. It is interesting, however, to note what the Taoiseach said at the European brewery convention in Dublin in 2003:
"The Minister for Health will shortly be bringing forward legislation to protect young people from the exposure to alcohol marketing, including advertising sponsorship and sales promotions. This will include restricting advertising of alcohol products on public transport, in youth centres and at sporting events where young people under 18 are participating. It would also prohibit broadcasting of alcohol advertising on TV and radio before 10pm and in cinemas where movies are being shown for children and young people under 18 years of age."
The heads of an Alcohol Products Bill were drawn up and the Bill was due for presentation in the Dáil in October 2005, but because of powerful lobbying from the drinks industry this legislative agenda was scuppered and a system of voluntary regulation was restored.
It must be remembered that alcohol is a drug, and a very addictive one. There is strong evidence to show that it is the "gateway drug" to cocaine, cannabis, tobacco and ecstasy. We have had enough of reports and statistics with regard to alcohol and drugs. What we need is some action. By setting up another committee the Minister for Justice is only outsourcing decision-making.
Something needs to be done immediately about the advertising of alcohol whereby we are bombarded with a daily diet of images on TV of young people drinking Guinness, Budweiser, cider, vodka, Bailey's, etc. Research has linked our high levels of alcohol consumption to increased suicide, mental illness, crime, visits to A&E, road accidents and unprotected sex, which in turn contributes to rapid increases in sexually transmitted infections.
We need to go back to what the Taoiseach said in 2003 and act on it. - Yours, etc,
PATRICK CAHILL,
Past President ASTI,
Whitehall Road,
Terenure,
Dublin 12.