Madam, - Your alarming front page report should serve as a wake-up call to the Government on the issue of alcohol in society and its effects on young people ("Liver disease cases point to rising alcohol abuse in young", The Irish Times, October 9th).
Two years after the publication of the Government's alcohol strategy little concerted action is in evidence. On the key issues of price, availability and promotion the strategy is hardly worth the paper it is written on due to Government inaction.
Three actions, which could be taken by the end of the year, would prove the Government is serious about its alcohol policy.
It could increase excise duty in the Budget to catch up with cost of living increases over the last few years (task force recommendation 1.1). The Minister for Health could replace the inadequate voluntary code on promoting and advertising alcohol with proper, rigorous legislation. (recommendation 2.1). A dedicated capital fund for alternative youth and community facilities could be introduced (recommendation 3.1).
This is the bare minimum a Government serious about our alcohol problem would do in the short term. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL McLOUGHLIN, Youthwork Ireland, Lower Dominick Street, Dublin 1.