The National Off-licence Association has welcomed the opposition by the Minister for Health, Mícheal Martin, to the deregulation of off-licences and pubs. Mr Martin was reacting to a survey which shows that Ireland has the worst underage drinking problem in Europe. The association said that Mr Martin was challenging what it called the misguided views of some of his Cabinet colleagues, including the Taoiseach.
Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell has meanwhile called on the Mr Martin to ban television advertising of alcohol and the sponsorship of sporting events by alcohol companies. The party's health spokesman was responding to the survey. The study, to be published next week, concentrates on the drinking habits of 15 and 16 year olds. Mr Martin, said that in 1999 alcohol related problems cost the country £1.7 billion. He added that the study showed there was a significant increase in drinking by teenage girls.
A national campaign has been announced to make people more aware of the dangers of alcohol. Speaking on RTÉ radio, the Minister Martin said that young girls here drink more alcohol, more often, and engage in more binge drinking than their counterparts elsewhere in the EU. He said that we must face up to the reality of our national alcohol problem. Mr Martin said that the figures coming out next week are startling when it came to hard drinking among young people.
Mr Martin added that, while the new national campaign would raise awareness and debate about the issues, parents and others with the capacity to influence young people must look at their own drinking habits and how they influence the younger generations. He also announced his personal opposition to the de-regulation of off-licenses and pubs saying the public health risks would be intolerable.
