Alcohol policies conflict

THE Government is effectively ignoring the health of the population by favouring those who want to extend drinking hours instead of giving more consideration to alcohol abuse concerns, a conference has heard.

Its strategy for dealing with alcohol abuse pays no more than lip service to health concerns and is contradicted by other government policies, Dr Shane Butler, an addiction specialist in Trinity College and co-director of the university's Addiction Research Centre, said.

Dr Butler said the Government was pursuing conflicting policies on alcohol one driven by public health concerns and the other motivated by liberalising the sale of drink.