THE GOVERNMENT will today launch a two-pronged strategy that will lead to restrictions in the availability of alcohol and stricter rules relating to sponsorship and advertising by drink companies.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Minster for Justice Brian Lenihan will this morning launch the report of the Government-appointed Alcohol Advisory Group and also publish the heads of a new Bill, the Intoxicating Liquor (Public Order) Bill 2008.
The legislation is expected to recommend restrictions on the sale of alcohol through off-licences, address below-cost selling and loss-leading promotions, and also propose a system whereby the opening hours of pubs and nightclubs will be “staggered”.
In early March, Mr Ahern said that the easy availability of alcohol had become a problem and he specifically mentioned the sale of drink in garages and service stations. The report and the draft legislation were both approved by the Cabinet yesterday.
Both Mr Ahern and Mr Lenihan have promised prompt action on foot of the report and expects to have the new law enacted by the summer.
The report by the expert group, chaired by Limerick solicitor Dr Gordon Holmes, was submitted to Mr Lenihan a number of weeks ago.
Other members of the group were Garda chief superintendent John Twomey, public health doctors Declan Bedford and Robbie Breen and Dr Ian O’Donnell, a criminologist based in UCD.
In tandem with the new legislation, the Government also disclosed yesterday that the Department of Health will be introducing a new code of practice that will relate to the advertising and sponsorship activities of drink companies.
Until now, a voluntary code of practice has been in place. Junior heath minister Pat “The Cope” Gallagher will later this week present a new code of practice to the industry.
According to a Government spokesman, the code has been strengthened and will deal more extensively with the question of sponsorship. The code will be made public shortly.
Earlier this year, Dr Holmes told an Oireachtas committee that an application for an off-licence had never been refused on the grounds that there were already sufficient, or too many, off-licences in the same area.
However, while it is certain that the new legislation will deal with problems associated with the proliferation of outlets for the sale of alcohol, there may be some legal difficulties in drafting legislation that will limit or curtail the practice of below-cost selling of alcohol.
There were also suggestions that the Government was considering raising the legal drinking age from 18 to 21 but sources said such a move was never contemplated.