A chara, – The Irish Timesis to be congratulated for its Editorial on the display of alcohol (May 14th).
The failure of the Government to implement the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 proves (if proof was needed) that this Government does not govern.
Further, it proves that the power of the drinks industry is greater than that of a democratically elected government.
In addition to the problem of underage binge drinking we also know, according to a Department of Health and Children report published in 2005, that over one-quarter (28 per cent) of the inuries of patients attending at hospital emergency departments are alcohol related.
We also know that alcohol contributes to one in four deaths among men in their 20s.
A report published in the Lancet in 2005 also revealed that, among 13 Western European countries, deaths due to liver cirrhosis was highest among Irish men over 65 and highest among Irish and Finnish women in the 45 to 64 age group.
The time is long overdue for the Government, not only to implement the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008, but to strengthen it by including a clause banning all advertising of alcohol and sponsorship of sporting events by the drinks industry.
The Government has the power and the duty to save lives and to reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments, but has it the courage to confront vested commercial interests? Apparently not. – Is mise,
Madam, – Your correspondent Paul O’Dwyer’s belief in the futility of poster campaigns designed to combat teenage drinking is well-founded (May 19th).
We should have learnt from the history of smoking in Ireland over the past few years that only legal measures and the proper enforcement of the laws have any palpable effect.
The self-regulation proffered originally by the tobacco industry and the appeals from many sources to reduce smoking achieved little success. Only the tobacco advertising ban and then the prohibition of smoking in public places produced any favourable results.
Similarly, the drink industry’s voluntary measures, such as written appeals on bottles and cans to drink sensibly are as laughable as the idea that preventing alcohol sales before 10.30am will reduce teenage drinking.
What is needed is a strategy similar to that which was devised for smoking. 1. A complete ban on all alcohol advertising other than at the point of sale. 2. The imposition of bans in those public areas where binge-drinking gets out of hand. 3. The strict enforcement of the legal measures introduced. – Yours, etc,