Drink abuse no longer minority issue

The abuse of alcohol can no longer be "dismissed" as a problem suffered by a minority of drinkers, according to Alex White, the junior health minister.

He declined to say when exactly promised legislation on alcohol would be published, but did confirm that a committee on alcohol advertising and sponsorship would report by year’s end.

Mr White, who has responsibility for the Government’s alcohol strategy, was responding to the findings of a household survey conducted by the Health Research Board.