Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) has expressed deep concern that legislation to allow pubs and nightclubs to extend their opening hours is expected to be brought to government in October, as confirmed by Taoiseach Simon Harris.
The international evidence is overwhelming that even a one-hour extension is associated with a 17% increase in alcohol related crime, up to a 30% increase in road collisions and a 34% increase in alcohol related injuries requiring hospital treatment.
In recent months almost 80 health, social and community organisations and advocates, including the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine, have called on the government to carry out a Health Impact Assessment on any such proposals to increase alcohol availability. This was a key recommendation in the report of the Oireachtas Justice Committee in its pre-legislative scrutiny of the Sale of Alcohol Bill.
Commenting on the proposals, AAI CEO Dr Sheila Gilheany said: “This shows a shocking disregard for the deep concerns of multiple front-line organisations who will have to pick up the pieces from these reckless proposals. Where is the forward planning to deal with the entirely predictable fallout? At the very least an assessment is required to put in place the resources needed and indeed to cost such resources. Our Emergency Departments are on their knees as it is with around 30% of ED presentations being alcohol-related at weekends. They certainly cannot absorb any further burden from alcohol.”
Despite the Taoiseach’s assertion that the legislation has ‘gotten the balance right’ between public health concerns and the interests of the nighttime economy, records of meetings held between the Department of Justice, which is driving this legislation, and external agencies or bodies to discuss the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022 show that public health organisations were consulted just once.
For context, representatives from industry organisations including the Vintners Federation of Ireland, Licensed Vintners Association, National Off-Licence Association and Restaurants Association of Ireland met with department officials on eight occasions. This is on top of a recent Parliamentary Question revealing just how little meaningful engagement there has been between the Department of Justice and the Department of Health.
The proposals also ignore the public unease as noted in opinion polls with 67% concerned about the potential impact on public services such as Emergency Departments, ambulances, Gardaí, transport and comes at a time when there is already considerable unease about safety in our urban areas. Impacts will not only fall on public services – individuals, families and communities will suffer. It is particularly concerning given the well-known connection between alcohol and domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
Dr Gilheany continued: “I fail to see how the Taoiseach can assert that the legislation has ‘gotten the balance right’ when public health bodies were consulted only once compared to the number of meetings that were had with industry representatives. It has become clear from all the enquiries that have been made over many months to the Department of Justice, and indeed the Department of Health, that there is negligible public health input or remit with this bill.
“Ignoring the concerns of those most affected by these proposals, disregarding the recommendations of the Oireachtas Justice Committee and progressing this legislation without proper planning can only lead to predictable harms which will be felt across towns and cities in Ireland. The question must be asked of this Taoiseach, himself a former Health Minister – who are you serving, the public or the publicans?”
ENDS
