GPs tonight hit out at a new code of practice restricting alcohol advertisements claiming it was a sop to the powerful drinks industry.

THE Government has delayed the introduction of random breath testing for two years due to its close links with publicans, opposition TDs said today.

PUBLIC unease over the mounting carnage on Ireland’s roads will be heightened by Opposition claims that the Government is delaying the introduction of random breath testing for two years because of its close links with publicans.

TIM O’HALLORAN has got it wrong again (‘One way to tackle the binge drinking culture,’ Irish Examiner letters, June 28).

ALCOHOL Action Ireland agrees with the views of the Department of Health’s alcohol policy adviser, Dr Ann Hope, about cafe bars.

THE introduction of café bars in Ireland will do nothing to tackle the problem of binge drinking, according to a leading publicans’ organisation.

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell’s plans to introduce café-style bars to tackle binge drinking will only make the problem worse, according to the Government’s foremost alcohol adviser.

THE introduction of continental-style cafe bars will do nothing to tackle the problem of binge drinking, publicans warned yesterday.

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell’s plan for continental-style café bars will worsen the country’s alcohol problem by making it more readily available, a member of the Strategic Task Force on Alcohol has warned.

The claim by a member of the Government’s Task Force on Alcohol that the drinks industry has had more influence on health policy than medical experts is startling.

ADMISSIONS of drunk people to acute hospitals have shot up by 80%, a study found yesterday.

THE latest report on binge drinking and its effects comes with the almost mandatory recommendation that draconian taxes be applied to the demon to try and solve the problem. It won’t solve the problem, of course.

THE price of alcohol needs to rise and pub opening hours and off-licences must be limited to deal with binge drinking that is costing us €2.56 billion a year, a report warned yesterday.

HEALTH Minister Micheál Martin can expect a few hiccups if he hopes to implement one of the main recommendations of the latest report of the Strategic Task Force on Alcohol without opposition.

ALCOHOL abuse costs the economy €2 billion annually, accounts for 25% of hospital admissions and most public order offences, a conference heard yesterday.

MANDATORY training is being urged for pub and club bouncers on how to handle drunks.

ALCOHOL advertising will be banned from sites near chools and playgrounds and restricted on radio and television broadcasts, under legislation being drawn up by the Government.

ALLOWING children to be in a pub after nine o’clock will be illegal in a fortnight. The next batch of regulations under the new liquor licensing laws comes into effect on September 29.

THE Government has approved the publication of the Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003 which contains tough provisions to combat drunkenness and disorderly conduct and abolishes late opening on Thursdays.

THE current focus on the alcohol problem is most welcome and very long overdue.

GOVERNMENT proposals to restrict alcohol advertising will not be introduced this year, despite the Taoiseach's expressed view yesterday that the legislation will be published shortly.

PUB closing hours are set to go back to 11.30pm on Thursdays, as late hours are blamed for absenteeism on Friday mornings.