Not setting date for alcohol sports ban ‘cowardice’

The Government has been accused of political cowardice for caving in to the drinks industry and not setting a date for the banning of alcohol sponsorship at sporting events.

Fergus McCabe, who was a member of the steering group which advised the Government to implement a ban, said it “sends out a terrible signal that the Government is not serious about tackling alcohol abuse in Ireland”.

Mr McCabe, who works with the Citywise community group, said the ban was part of a balanced package of measures that should have been implemented in full and he was “very disappointed” that vested interests had won out. He described the climbdown as “political cowardice which does a huge disservice to the people of Ireland”.