Industry reps ‘must be limited’ on licensing body

THE Government must limit the number of industry representatives on the new expert body to review the alcohol licensing system, a leading expert said yesterday.

Dr Joe Barry, a member of the Department of Health’s Strategic Task Force on Alcohol, said plans by Justice Minister Brian Lenihan to tighten up regulation on the area could only be done if membership of the commission was broadened.

Nine of the 22 members of the first Commission on Liquor Licensing were drawn from the drinks and food industry, while two were from the competition sector. There was only one representative from the health area, which was the Department of Health, and one from the youth area.

“While I welcome plans to re-establish the commission, the last commission was fairly dominated by industry,” said Dr Barry. “The new commission needs a much wider membership.”

Mr Lenihan said the first commission did not have within its terms of reference the issue of the harm caused by alcohol, but that this would be included in the next commission’s remit.

“If that is the case, he will have to put people on it that will vindicate that. He can’t pack it with industry people,” said Dr Barry, a public health lecturer in Trinity College.

Dr Barry welcomed comments from the chairman of the first Commission on Liquor Licensing, Gordon Holmes, who called for tighter restrictions on places that could sell alcohol and their opening hours.

“Those of us on the public health side have been saying for a long time that alcohol is not an ordinary commodity and can’t be left to the market. If you do, you are going to get health and social problems. We need to bring the balance back.”

Dr Barry said supermarkets, which were openly pushing cheap beer, must be brought under tight regulation.

He said there was no register detailing all the places licensed to sell alcohol.

He recommended that the health service be given a role in objecting to drink licences and applications for bar extensions.