Alcohol link in ads poses ethical questions

HARDLY a week goes by without yet another report highlighting the harm caused by alcohol.

Last week another such finding by the Health Research Board — and no doubt conducted at considerable expense — was addressed in your editorial (November 9, “Time to act on problem drinking”).

Recently in your newspaper there was an advertisement for the 11th Cork Wine Fair, mentioning that “all proceeds will go to Cork Simon Community”.

The latter, on its website, states that a large percentage of the people they deal with have a problem with alcohol.

Given the nature of the event and the fact that it is promoted by one of the country’s leading off-licence chains, surely the connection poses ethical questions — or is it that where money is concerned, ethics don’t come into it?

John Walshe

Ballycotton

Co Cork