Longer pub hours ‘will cut bingeing’

EXTENDING pub opening hours and liberalising the availability of alcohol will help reduce the level of binge drinking, a leading psychologist has advised.

Dismissing bans on alcohol advertising and tax hikes on alcohol products as little more than attempts to gain votes or short-term political approval, Professor Adrian Furnham of University College London said education and better adult behaviour towards drink were the only ways to encourage responsible drinking among young people.

Prof Furnham, who was among the keynote international speakers at a conference on 'Youth Culture and Binge Drinking: Reasons, Ramifications and Remedies' in Dublin yesterday, said binge drinking is on the increase in Ireland and Britain where it is seen as "heroic" to get drunk.