€2.6bn - the high price of our binge drinking crisis

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.

With adults spending almost €2,000 annually on drink, the Strategic Task Force on Alcohol recommends increased taxes and restrictions on the issuing of new licences to combat the problem.

Although alcohol consumption fell for the first time in 16 years in 2003, the report says further tough measures are needed to reduce consumption.

Ireland has the highest rate of binge drinking in Europe and the second-highest alcohol consumption - 13.5 litres of pure alcohol per adult each year.

Health Minister Micheál Martin expressed concern that more than 14,000 people had died over the past decade from alcohol-related illnesses. He said much of the blame for the numerous personal, economic and social problems caused by alcohol abuse was due to the "cultural indifference" to drinking.

"This study shows that binge drinking is the norm among men. Out of every 100 drinking occasions, 58 end up in binge drinking," he said. "It is this combination of high consumption levels and high rate of binge-drinking that leads to greater alcohol-related harm."

Mr Martin said his priority would be to protect children from the harmful effects of alcohol and to highlight the risks of consuming alcohol during pregnancy.

He attributed the 6% fall in alcohol consumption in 2003 to the decision to increase taxes on some alcohol drinks. However, he said a decision on any further excise duty increases rested largely with the incoming Finance Minister.

The report published yesterday contains 78 individual recommendations, including the establishment of a hotline to report breaches of alcohol legislation and a ban on all under-18s working in pubs. It also calls for an official investigation into the high cost of soft drinks in pubs and a reduction in the number of sporting events sponsored by alcohol brands.

On a positive note, the report highlighted how increases in excise duty on spirits and cider in the 2002 Budget had led to significant drops in consumption of both types of drink over the past two years.

Reacting to the report, the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland, which represents alcohol manufacturers and vintner organisations, expressed concern that the Government had still failed to introduce a much-sought national ID card scheme.

The DIGI also came out strongly against any further increases in excise duty on alcohol as a measure to reduce overall consumption.