The Department of Justice accused two drinks’ industry groups involved in a Government alcohol strategy committee of trying to “undermine” its final report.

Two organisations associated with the drinks industry rejected assertions they intended to undermine the report of the Government-appointed expert group on alcohol.

A drink awareness group has criticised reality TV shows such as Tallafornia for glamorising excessive drinking.

Sparks flew at the launch of a Government expert group’s report on alcohol, as representatives of the drinks industry accused the group of “effectively suppressing” its views and labelled members of being “ideologically prejudiced”.

The Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society (MEAS) campaign is reminding people to drink sensibly today - and over the rest of the Christmas period.

THE State is subsidising supermarkets in selling cheap alcohol by refunding them VAT on drink sold at a loss, it emerged at an Oireachtas Committee yesterday.

A nightclub in Co. Westmeath has been found to have breached the MEAS code on the responsible promotion of alcohol.

STUDENT and drinks industry leaders are asking those starting college this month to think before they drink in a campaign that seeks to stop them flushing their studies down the drain.

A Co Waterford pub has been found to be in direct breach of the Code of Practice on the Naming, Packaging and Promotion of Alcohol.

A LEADING youth organisation has hit out at the alcohol industry claiming many venues continue to show little regard for laws banning so-called “happy hour” promotions.

A night-spot was rapped today for giving students free alcoholic drinks for a night.

A promotion by discount supermarket Lidl for a cocktail shaker filled with jellies has been criticised by an alcohol watchdog.

A south Dublin pub has been found to be in breach of a national code of practice on alcohol promotions.

IN his letter (August 4) Bobby Smyth accuses the drinks industry of deception and dishonesty in our efforts to promote a more responsible attitude to alcohol consumption in Ireland.

I OBJECT most strongly to the gross misrepresentation by Dr Bobby Smyth (Letters, August 4) of the function and format of the drinkaware.ie website, launched in 2006 by MEAS (Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society).

Drinks awareness group MEAS has appealed to students to stay safe while celebrating the end of their state exams this weekend.

A bar breached alcohol promotion rules by featuring a Hallowe’en free drink offer, it was revealed today.

People are being urged to take personal responsibility for their drinking to ensure a safe St Patrick's Day today.

The Independent Complaints Commission has found a pub in Co. Laois in breach of alcohol codes.

FOUR licensed premises have been rapped for suggesting “sexual success or prowess” in a drinks promotion.

Four night spots were slammed today when a drinks promotion featuring scantily clad images of women was found to suggest sexual prowess.

A wine promotion at a Tesco store has been found to have breached the MEAS Code on responsible marketing of alcohol.

The group set up by the drinks industry to promote responsible drinking has condemned breaches of its code of practice by a Co Dublin nightclub.

The 2008 Christmas anti-drink-driving campaign was launched at Cork University Hospital by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána today.

Music fans gearing up for the Oxegen music festival today were urged not to drink and drive.

Off-licences, pubs and shops selling alcohol are being urged to strictly enforce ID requirements over St Patrick's weekend.

Only €1m was last year spent on providing alternatives for young people to discourage drinking on the streets, it was revealed today.

Romantics were urged today to avoid being a drunk in love this St Valentine’s Day and to dump thoughts of excessive drinking.

PARTYGOERS hoping to ring in 2008 with a glass of champagne or a few pints will have to queue for taxis or designate a driver, as public transport will not be available in most parts of the country for one of the busiest nights of the year.

I WAS disgusted to see the new bus adverts sponsored by MEAS, an organisation backed by the drinks companies. Many people might be led to believe that drinkaware.ie ads are paid for by the Government.

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey will today launch the Road Safety Authority’s (RSA’s) Christmas and New Year drink driving campaign.

A new film competition promoting responsible attitudes towards alcohol will be launched in Dublin today.

THE twin evils of drunkenness and anti social behaviour are the targets of a new advertising campaign launched yesterday.

Almost 28,000 suspected drink drivers were brought before the courts last year, it was revealed today.

MEAS, the alcohol social responsibility organisation, has issued a warning to revellers heading to the Electric Picnic festival this weekend.

IT brings a whole new meaning to the term stiff drink, but ‘Stiffys Shots’ have not gone down well with the Vintners Federation of Ireland.

A NEW tamper-proof age card aimed at stamping out the illegal sale of alcohol to the underage has been launched.

A national ID card should be compulsory for everyone over the age of 18, according to a leading alcohol-abuse awareness group.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to line the streets later to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day.

AT LEAST €20 million will be spent on promoting sensible drinking over the next five years by a group set up by the drinks industry to reduce alcohol abuse.

The drinks industry is launching a €1.75m campaign today to promote a more responsible approach to alcohol consumption.

A €1.75 MILLION campaign will be launched today to promote responsible drinking.

I REFER to Terry Prone’s article (Irish Examiner, October 30) which was prompted by the recent MEAS (Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society) seminar on the cultural and social aspects of alcohol.

Alcohol companies are in the business of shareholder value, like every other kind of company.