Sir, – Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has cast doubt over whether reforms to late licensing laws will be in place in time to allow pubs and clubs to stay open later this summer, adding that he would like to see the legislation in place as soon as possible (“Licensing laws unlikely to be reformed by this summer, says Varadkar” (News, March 8th).
This is despite the calls from chair of the Road Safety Authority, Liz O’Donnell, and CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland, Sheila Gilheany, along with 79 health, social and community organisations across Ireland, voicing strong opposition to proposed measures in the Sale of Alcohol Bill.
The RSA points out Ireland’s significant problem with drink driving – one in 10 drivers report driving after drinking; and toxicology results that found over a third of driver fatalities over four years had tested positive for alcohol, with half of these crashes occurring between 10pm and 6am.
Mr Varadkar suggests that change in alcohol licensing laws is needed so that Irish cities and towns have the same kind of nightlife as “pretty much every other European country”.
The problem with this mindset is that Irish people’s relationship with alcohol is not like every other European country. Heavy episodic drinking remains a major part of the Irish relationship with alcohol. Half of those who use alcohol are hazardous drinkers and over a third (37 per cent) of 15- to 24-year-olds who drink alcohol have an alcohol use disorder.
Repeated calls for a Health Impact Assessment of the proposals prior to the introduction of the legislation have fallen on deaf ears. Now is the time for the chief medical officer (CMO) to row in and steady the ship.
The office of the CMO has a key strategic role in providing expert public health advice to the Minister for Health and Ministers of State with direct responsibility for health and wellbeing.
With the summer Dáil recess hurtling towards us, there is not a moment to lose. – Yours, etc,
Dr CATHERINE CONLON,
Ballintemple,
Cork.