The Government has kicked to touch its plans to ban sports sponsorship by the alcohol industry as drugs strategy minister Roisín Shortall admits it may take up to 10 years to enforce it.

A LABOUR MINISTER has confirmed that the government is pressing ahead with plans to ban drinks companies from sponsoring sporting events. Róisin Shortall told the Dáil that Irish society can no longer tolerate the level of alcohol abuse in this country, particularly among young people, who are part

SPORTS ADVERTISING AND sponsorship by alcohol companies is to be phased out “over a reasonable period of time”, Deputy Minister Roisín Shortall said this week.

SHARES in cider maker C&C fell yesterday after the company said sales were hit by changing drinking habits which mean that consumers are drinking at home and avoiding pubs.

The Government should push through plans to limit the sale of alcohol, and alcohol sponsorship of sport and culture events despite Cabinet divisions, Kathleen Lynch, the junior health minister, said yesterday.

ALCOHOL SPONSORSHIP of sports events is to be ended, Minister of State for Health Róisín Shortall has pledged. “I am committed to phasing that out over a reasonable period of time,” she said in the Dáil.