McDowell’s café bar ‘experiment’

Cormac O’Keeffe

“Numerous health experts attached to the Department of Health have warned against Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s proposals to increase the number of drinking outlets by opening new café bars, and have warned they will only contribute to the problem of alcohol abuse,” said party justice spokesman Jim O’Keeffe.

He said these included:

Dr Joe Barry, a member of the Task Force on Alcohol, who said the proposal would make matters worse.

Dr Ann Hope, the National Alcohol Policy Adviser at the Department of Health, who said café bars would not reduce binge drinking.

Prof Colin Drummond of St George’s Hospital Medical School in London. He said restricting alcohol availability and limiting the density of pubs and off-licences were the most effective ways of combating binge drinking.

The views of Dr Barry and Dr Hope were revealed in the Irish Examiner.

“When Mr McDowell launched these proposals he talked of creating a culture where food is consumed with drink. Instead, he will be promoting a culture where even more people will drink while eating,” said Mr O’Keeffe.

He said there was no evidence to support the theory that café bars would encourage a shift away from binge drinking.

“This theory is little more than a starry-eyed experiment in social engineering that is not worth taking.”

Mr O’Keeffe said there was a drink culture in Ireland related to pubs.

“This culture is so successful that it has been successfully sold and marketed in cities across Europe and throughout the world. Providing additional drinking opportunities is unlikely to reduce alcohol abuse.”

The deadline for submissions from the public on café bars passed on Tuesday.

A Department of Justice spokesman said they would accept submissions on the proposals in the coming days. Legislation on the provisions is due to be published in the autumn.