Shortall: We must stamp out cultural links with alcohol

Irish alcohol consumption levels have increased two years in a row despite the recession, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer at the Department of Health, said “much had been made” by the alcohol industry of a drop in consumption levels in recent years.

Also at the Oireachtas health committee, Roisín Shortall, minister with responsibility for drugs, criticised advertisements using shamrocks to sell alcohol over St Patrick’s weekend.