Bishops call for end to drink firms' sports sponsorship

Drinks companies should be banned from sponsoring sports to help tackle alcohol abuse, Catholic bishops claimed today.

The church also said tougher drink-driving laws must be rolled out north and south.

Bishop Eamonn Walsh, vice chair of the Irish Bishops’ Drugs and Alcohol Initiative (IBDI), said authorities on both sides of the border must recognise the seriousness of the problem.

“Public policy at an all-island level should be co-ordinated, consistent and reflect the seriousness of this issue,” he said.

“It is necessary to reduce the alcohol/blood level to 50mg, north and south.

“As a priority alcohol should not be a sponsor of sporting events or sporting organisations.

“Such a bold move would have financial implications for drink companies, sporting organisations and the revenue authorities, however the status quo is simply not a sustainable option.”

The Government published draft tougher drink driving laws last month, cutting the blood alcohol level to 50mg for ordinary drivers and 20mg for professionals and novices.

The North's Environment Minister Edwin Poots said dramatically reduced blood-alcohol levels could be in force in the north early next year.

At the launch of an information pack for parishes about coping with the problems of drink and drug abuse, Bishop Walsh said alternative entertainment to alcohol should be promoted.

“Today’s seminar is a special day for cross-border co-operation in combating the damage caused by the misuse of alcohol and the scourge of illicit drugs,” he said.

“Parishes can share their experiences while developing a consistent response to such community problems using resources already available to them.”

Bishop of Down and Connor Noel Treanor said there had been a 50% hike in the number of professionals and executives seeking cocaine treatment between 2005 and 2008.

The IBDI was set up in 1997 as a Church response to the growing problem of drug and alcohol misuse in Ireland.