Minister calls for restrictions on alcohol sales

DRUGS Strategy Minister Pat Carey has called for restrictions on the sale of alcohol and compulsory training for staff in off-licences.

Mr Carey said the rise in tragedies involving the abuse of illegal drugs and alcohol strengthened the need to include alcohol into the next national drugs strategy, due to be drafted at the end of next year.

Recent tragedies include the drug party in Waterford city, where two young men are still fighting for their lives following the consumption of drugs, reportedly cocaine and amphetamine along with alcohol.

Also last week, Cork City Coroner’s Court heard how a 26-year-old mother died after taking cocaine and alcohol following a night’s socialising with friends in June of this year.

“I think the latest incidents back up the argument that alcohol needs to be included,” said Mr Carey.

“I hear more and more people talking about the need to recognise that the biggest addiction we have is alcohol, and that alcohol mixed with a concoction of other drugs is the one people haven’t been aware of.

“I heard Dr Des Corrigan saying that you just don’t know what that the reaction between drugs is.”

National Advisory Committee on Drugs chairman Dr Corrigan told the Irish Examiner last week that experts did not know how many of the drugs interacted with each other.

He said this was apart from the combined effect of alcohol and cocaine, which create another drug called cocaethylene, which is more toxic than either drug alone.

Minister of State Carey said he was particularly concerned at the sharp rise in the number of outlets selling alcohol in recent years.

“Our big problem is the proliferation of off-licences and the fact that staff in them are largely untrained.”

He said he was talking to Justice Minister Brian Lenihan about the issue.

“I’ve been talking to Mr Lenihan and have given him some suggestions as to the things he ought to do, including that there should be restrictions on the trading hours of some off-licences and the need for training for staff to be mandatory.”

He said the point was hit home to him recently when he stopped at a garage.

“I was driving from Cork to Waterford, and went into a petrol station. Before I got to the till there was a mountain of Heineken staring me in the face, I barely got to the till. That’s how alcohol is sold.

“Some tightening up of outlets where drink is sold is needed and one area where I’ve considerable concern is alcohol sold at petrol stations.”