Linking alcohol with drugs reflects ‘reality on ground’

THE Government’s decision to combine alcohol with illegal drugs in one strategy reflected the reality on the ground, Minister of State John Curran said yesterday.

Mr Curran, who has responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy (NDS), said, while there were obvious differences between alcohol and illegal drugs, there were many similarities.

The drinks industry hit out at the Government’s decision and said it had “demonised” alcohol. The Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland (ABFI) said there were fundamental differences, including the fact alcohol was a legal substance.