Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) notes the publication of the draft Programme for Government and the welcome commitment to ‘continue to tackle harmful alcohol consumption through effective regulations.’
According to the World Health Organization, the most effective regulations are controls on price, marketing and availability. In 2018 modest legislation, with overwhelming cross-party support, was passed by the Oireachtas along those lines – the Public Health (Alcohol) Act. However, nearly seven years later it still has not been fully implemented with important measures on the content of alcohol advertising not in place and increasingly it is being undermined through lack of enforcement and cynical industry work arounds.
AAI CEO, Dr Sheila Gilheany commented:
‘We really welcome the commitment to address alcohol harm. It is essential that the government now puts drive and resources into developing a new coherent cross-government strategy in this area. Alcohol is by far Ireland’s largest drug problem with1500 hospital beds in daily use and a significant drain on the economy costing the state at least €12 billion annually. It has a devastating impact on 1 in 6 children living with parental problem alcohol use – a trauma which sadly is also a gateway to other concerns such as domestic and sexual abuse. Yet alcohol is not even mentioned in the current Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Strategy.
Dr Gilheany continued,
‘We also note the intention to enact legislation to update our licensing laws. While no one has a problem with streamlining alcohol licensing processes, it is essential that there should be no extension of alcohol availability through increased venues or opening hours. There is copious evidence of the links between increased alcohol availability and a plethora of additional harm such as violence on the street and in the home as well as impacts on road safety, health services and workplace productivity. At the very least the government must carry out a Health Impact Assessment on any licensing proposals as recommended by the Oireachtas Justice Committee in 2023.’
ENDS
Media queries
Sheila Gilheany 086 2600903
Sheila.gilheany@alcoholactionireland.ie
Notes:
- An examination of the Enforcement of Ireland’s Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018: A Paper Tiger.
- Further information re licensing hours and alcohol harm here
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