State ‘not tackling’ youth drink problem

AN ANALYSIS by a leading youth organisation has shown the Government has failed completely in its efforts to implement measures to tackle the growing problem of alcohol consumption among young people.

Youth Work Ireland said a new analysis of how the Government had acted on the recommendations of its own Strategic Task Force on Alcohol which were published in September 2004 showed that little or no action was the norm.

“It is probably the worst policy in the world,” said YWI spokesman Michael McLoughlin, who called on the Government to put “public health above private interests.”

A report by the YWI scored the Government’s performance on each of the 78 recommendations contained in the Task Force report which was published just over two years ago.

YWI — which was formerly known as the National Youth Federation — awarded the Government an overall mark of just 1.5 out of 10 for its efforts to address the problem of alcohol in Irish society. A zero mark was awarded for efforts undertaken to implement 17 out of the 78 recommendations — over a fifth of the total.

“This detailed analysis of Government policy on alcohol is quite damning,” said Mr McLoughlin. “Despite the publication two years ago of the Task Force report, little has happened. This isn’t good enough.”

The Government scored a zero mark for its inaction on six out of nine recommendations designed to limit the availability of alcohol such as increasing excise duty, reforming the licensing laws and restricting the number of new outlets which could sell alcoholic drinks.

Attempts by improve community-based mobilisation projects to tackle underage drinking had not been fulfilled despite some early promise, according to the YWI analysis.

The only positive note sounded by the YWI on the Government’s performance was in the area of research, described as “average”,

“Despite constant expressions of concern in relation to alcohol and young people, the Government continues to fall short of its own commitments across the board,” said Mr McLoughlin.