Radical steps needed to fight alcohol abuse

THE Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative (IBDI) was established in 1997 as a Catholic Church response to the growing problem of drug and alcohol misuse in Ireland.

Since that time over 250 parishes throughout the country — north and south — have become involved in this pastoral initiative.

IBDI welcomes the recent proposal by Minister Roisín Shorthall, who holds responsibility for primary care and substance abuse, to introduce legislation to enable minimum pricing for alcohol.