Alcohol ads ‘aimed at young’

A WATERFORD TD has spoken out over what he has described as “the blatant marketing of alcohol products to young people”.

Labour’s Brian O’Shea has asked Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney what progress is being made on legislation to reduce the exposure of young people to alcohol advertising.

Dr Conor Farren, consultant psychiatrist at St Patrick’s Hospital, Dublin, described Ireland’s alcohol problems as “very bad and worsening”.

“The conservative estimate for Ireland is that 5% of the population is alcohol dependant and a further 7% alcohol abusive, which would suggest that there are 200,000 alcoholics in Ireland and a further 280,000 are alcohol abusive,” he said.

Mr O’Shea was told that of 400 patients treated for addiction at St Patrick’s last year, 200 were treated on the dual diagnosis programme — 110 for depression and alcohol and 90 for bipolar disorder and alcohol. He said it is time the Government acted decisively to tackle the alcohol problem.

“This problem must be tackled on all fronts, by Government, the health agencies, the drinks industry, the media, schools, employers and by people themselves,” he said.

The Department of Health said a recommendation in the interim report of the Strategic Task Force on Alcohol calls for reduced exposure to marketing to children and adolescents.

Ms Harney said: “The Government has now approved the heads of a bill to limit such promotions and a voluntary code of practice has also been negotiated with the media, the drinks and broadcast industries.”

A monitoring body has been established to oversee the implementation of the code and the minister says she will await the findings of its annual report before deciding on legislative action.