Call for restrictions - Fighting the growing tide of abuse

Antisocial behaviour due largely to the influence of drugs, especially alcohol, has become endemic in this country.

Drastic steps are needed to tackle the problem before it becomes much worse.

The Beverage Council of Ireland, distributors of alcoholic and soft drinks, has called for a number of initiatives to fight the tide of alcohol abuse.

This follows similar demands for restricted alcohol availability by the Institute of Public Health and the Catholic bishops.

A bottle of beer may cost as little as 75 cent in some outlets, as a result of price promotions. This is less than half the price of a soft drink in most pubs.

A virtual revolution in drinking habits has developed as a consequence of the smoking ban.

More people are drinking at home, and young people are resorting to private parties, where there may be little or no responsible supervision.

In the traditional pub, responsible owners were not likely to serve either underage people, or those who had already consumed too much alcohol. Something must therefore be done to tackle underage drinking and the increased availability of alcohol.

The council had called for the introduction of mandatory ID cards for people over 18 to purchase alcohol. The Institute of Public Health has stressed that present sanctions and penalties are not working in relation to underage alcohol consumption. Consequently, the institute has called for the introduction of a mechanism that would allow the authorities to trace the alcohol being consumed by underage people.

With modern technology and the introduction of legislation to require proper identification, it should not be too difficult to ensure traceability of the purchaser and where specific alcohol containers were bought. It would require little extra effort, but that would be a small price to pay in tackling what has developed into a serious social problem. The problems are likely to get worse if they are not tackled without delay.

Stressing the need to curb the availability of alcohol, the institute has called on the Government’s Alcohol Advisory Group to introduce legislation to regulate the minimum pricing of alcohol and to outlaw special promotions by supermarkets, convenience stores and petrol stations.

The council has similarly called for a ban on advertising price promotions of alcoholic products, as well as strict segregation of alcohol in supermarkets, convenience stores and petrol stations.

It should not be enough that alcohol products are just fenced off in a store outside of legal trading hours; the area where such items are sold should be completely walled off, with a separate entrance.

Happy hour promotions are outlawed in the off-licence sector, but there are no restrictions on the price or volume-based promotional activities in supermarkets, convenience stores or petrol stations. This is crazy.

The very idea of allowing petrol stations to sell alcohol raises a further question about the commitment to eliminate drink driving, because it amounts to an invitation to people to drive for drink.

We need to face up to the problems of antisocial behaviour before they drive others to drink.