Government won’t tackle drink problem, claims expert

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.