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.”