Ban adverts in fight against alcohol abuse

JUSTICE Minister Brian Lenihan recently stated that the Government would not become complacent about killings in the face of gangland crimes, but would redouble efforts to deal with drugs and the abuse of alcohol which were the cause of many of the problems.

I would agree with the minister in making the connection between alcohol abuse and other drugs.

As a teacher I have listened to young people discussing alcohol abuse and drugs over the past 10 years especially, and I am convinced alcohol is now the ‘gateway’ to other drugs such as cocaine, cannabis, tobacco and ecstasy.

Recent statistics have shown that drug consumption among Irish youth rose steadily throughout the 1990s and that they are among the most experienced drug-users in the EU.

The drinks companies use sport to advertise their products, eg, the present rugby World Cup.

We are bombarded with TV images of young people drinking all kind of alcohol which is perceived as the cool thing to do.

This advertising of alcohol has produced the ‘lad and ladette’ culture which is part and parcel of our so-called Celtic Tiger economy.

On September 14, in France, a court ordered that Heineken, one of the sponsors of the World Cup, remove adverts which included its brand name following a complaint from an association that campaigns against alcohol abuse.

We need something similiar in Ireland to counteract the mass advertising of alcohol.

The minister should bring in legislation to stop or restrict the mass advertising of alcohol.

After all, one of the main recommendations of the Strategic Task Force on Alcohol was to restrict advertising because of the effect it was having on young people.

The recommendation was not implemented as a result of strong lobbying from the drinks industry.

Pat Cahill

81 Whitehall Road

Terenure

Dublin 12