Sir, – Further to John Mallon's letter of May 1st, Ireland does not have "a small number of problem drinkers", Ireland has a large number of harmful drinkers. The Health Research Board's Irish Alcohol Diaries (2013) indicate that over 1.35 million people in Ireland are harmful drinkers.
Levels of alcohol consumption in Ireland, allied to our preference for binge drinking mean that alcohol-related harms are at an unsustainable level. The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 will legislate to implement evidence based measures to reduce alcohol harm. Minimum unit pricing, which is not a tax but rather a “floor” price beneath which alcohol cannot be sold, is a key part of this legislation and targets very low cost alcohol.
Irish society is burdened by alcohol harm, we need to lift that burden. – Yours, etc,
SUZANNE COSTELLO,
Chief Executive Officer,
Alcohol Action Ireland ,
Butler Court,
25 Great Strand Street,
Dublin 1.