State accused of collaboration with drinks industry

A LOBBY group aiming to curb excess alcohol consumption has accused the Government of being in “collaboration” with the drinks industry.

Alcohol Action Ireland said this link is “stifling” the Government’s ability to confront problems associated with alcohol. Responding to last week’s revelations that alcohol consumption went up by 17% in the past 10 years and the number of people seeking treatment for drink problems increased by 21%, the group claimed the Government “is not protecting young people from alcohol-related harm”.

According to executive Marion Rackard, the increase in alcohol consumption and problems is because of:

* The lack of a national alcohol strategy.

* Government policy allowing for a decrease in the relative price.

* Increased availability of alcohol.

* Allowing the alcohol industry to regulate its own intensive and aggressive marketing of alcohol.

Ms Rackard said the harm caused by alcohol is hurting many people in this country, who are not getting help when they need it. One in 10 of those seeking help with alcohol-related problems are under the age of 19, she said, and one in four of those had started drinking by the time they were 15.

“What is evident from these results,” she said, “is that the Government’s collaboration with the alcohol industry, we believe, is stifling its ability to criticise, analyse and confront the practices of the industry.”

Alcohol Action Ireland submitted a position paper to the Government’s review body on alcohol — due to report in the coming weeks — in which it made 26 recommendations. These include the provision of a national alcohol strategy; more investment in treatment services; tax from the sale of alcohol to pay for treatment facilities; and more work on early intervention to prevent drink problems.

“Treatment has been proven a very cost-effective measure for rehabilitating those who have developed hazardous, harmful and dependent drinking patterns and their families,” said Ms Rackard.

“If treatment is not offered people will eventually die needlessly or develop a chronic illness or disability.”