A south Dublin TD has expressed her “alarm” at the volume of messages she has had from constituents against Government plans to end the availability of cheap alcohol, including some from parents arguing their teenagers should have access to inexpensive drink.
Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, was speaking at the announcement of a new alliance of health professionals and NGOs, the Alcohol Health Alliance.
Its primary aim will be to support the Government’s Public Health (Alcohol) Bill to be published in coming months and enacted by the end of the year.
Among its key measures will be the introduction of a minimum per-unit price for alcohol to end the sale of cheap alcohol.
Ms Mitchell O’Connor said she had been “getting loads of messages against the Bill” and appealed for constituents to contact her supporting it.
“I have been alarmed at some of the messages, including from parents. I have had fathers contacting me arguing that their 16-year-old daughters should be allowed access to cheap drink. That is how daft some of the thinking is out there on this.”
She said she had also received personally abusive messages from constituents saying the Bill was interfering with their freedom to pursue lifestyles as they wished.
Source: Kitty Holland, Irish Times, 06/03/15
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