The key findings and proceedings of the first national conference in Ireland addressing the impact of parental substance misuse on children are summarised in the conference report, A Family Affair? Supporting children living with parental substance misuse.

The average amount drunk in Ireland is 15th highest worldwide. Figures published by the World Health Organisation (Ireland report- Global status report on alcohol and health (WHO, 2011) disclose that the average Irish person drinks more 14.4 litres of pure alcohol a year - higher than the European average

The Report On The Misuse of Alcohol and Other Drugs was launched by the Joint Committee on Health and Children in 2012. The majority of the Committee members support the introduction of minimum pricing and recommend measures on alcohol availability and marketing, including marketing on social networking sites.

Alcohol is associated with a range of chronic and acute medical conditions, including liver cirrhosis, various cancers, road traffic accidents and suicide. The 2009 Health Research Board report "Health-Related Consequences of Problem Alcohol Use" makes a number of recommendations about what is needed in Ireland to reduce the health-related consequences of alcohol consumption

The Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy, released in February, 2012 has created a comprehensive set of recommendations - including several concerning alcohol marketing, advertising and sponsorship - that if implemented will go a considerable way to protecting the health and wellbeing of children, young people and families in communities across Ireland.