The country’s leading authority on alcohol policy has said he does not believe the Government will introduce measures to tackle the growing drink problem that will damage the industry.
Shane Butler, senior lecturer in the school of social work and social policy at Trinity College Dublin, described the State’s response to the crisis as a "scattergun approach" and said the relationship between health authorities and the alcohol industry was like "trench warfare".
The head of the National Suicide Research Foundation also criticised Government inaction, asking why authorities have not been effective in tackling access to alcohol. Dr Ella Arensman said a report to be published today shows the strong links between suicide and alcohol. She said there was a need to reduce the number of outlets where people could buy alcohol, or include a warning on drink that excessive use could cause serious mental problems.
The broadsides come as the Cabinet today decides on an alcohol action plan submitted by drugs strategy minister Roisín Shortall.
Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney denied that there was any division in the Government over the new alcohol policy. He supported having a minimum price for alcohol but said sponsorship and advertising was "a different issue". "We will have a mature discussion and we will come up with a government position."
Ms Shortall yesterday threw down the gauntlet to her more senior colleagues, saying that if they were serious about tackling the alcohol problem, they had to sign up to the package. However, the junior health minister admitted there had been "some level of compromise" and that the action plan differed to the recommendations of an expert group which reported last February.
Source: Cormac O’Keeffe, Evelyn Ring, and Ann Cahill, Irish Examiner, 17/07/12
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