Government 'aiding' binge drinking

The Government has been accused of facilitating binge drinking by failing to stop supermarkets and convenience stores from selling alcohol below-cost.

The National Off-Licence Association (Noffla), which represents about 350 independent stores around the country, claimed today that the decision not to impose mandatory legislation covering the promotion of alcohol by multiples was behind the increase in consumption.

”Key elements of legislation introduced in July 2008 aimed at curbing alcohol abuse and underage drinking have not yet been brought into effect because the Government has buckled under pressure from the international retail giants operating in this market and the consequence is a complete failure to tackle the ongoing national problem of binge drinking”, Noffla’s chief executive Jim McCabe told delegates at the association’s annual general meeting in Dublin today.

Between 2001 and 2007 there has been an increase of almost 70 per cent in the number of off-licences and shops selling alcohol and a bottle of beer now retails for as little as €0.75 in some outlets.

Meanwhile, a study published by the Division of Population Health Sciences in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) last week found that over a quarter of Irish adults have admitted to drinking six or more standard drinks on one occasion at least once a week. In addition, 10 per cent of drinkers reported drinking in excess of the recommended weekly limit of 14 units for women and 21 units for men.

Measures to prohibit below-cost selling of alcohol were due to be introduced as part of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008. That act led to a reduction in the opening hours of off-licences and late bars and an increase in on-the-spot fines to combat alcohol-related public disorder. Additional legislation regarding the promotion of alcohol restrictions on below-cost selling was put on hold pending the introduction of a voluntary code of practice.

Public health experts such as Prof Joe Barry of Trinity College Dublin and organisations including Barnardos are among those who have called for the introduction of mandatory legislation.

“It is more than ironic that one of the few changes to liquor licensing that was in fact subsequently enforced in the new licensing legislation was in relation to the trading hours for off-licences. The net result was that the sector that has demonstrated the highest level of standards in responsible trading suffered the greatest level of curtailment in trading hours,” said Mr McCabe.

The reduction in trading hours only adds to more bulk purchasing by consumers, disbelief amongst visiting tourists and the likelihood of illegal selling of alcohol outside licensing hours by irresponsible traders, he added.

Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern rejected the view that the reduction in the hours of off-sales which was provided for in the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 impacted only on specialist off-licences.

"The Act requires all off-sales to cease at 10pm, so publicans and mixed traders are affected by the new off-sales time limits as well as the dedicated off-trade," the Minister said in a statement.

He also confirmed that the development of a code of practice regarding the display and sale of alcohol in mixed trading premises was at an advanced stage and that he would shortly make an announcement on the matter.