Cheers to Shortall for igniting drink debate, but is she right?

JUNIOR minister Roísín Shortall should be congratulated on trying to stimulate a national debate on alcohol consumption, especially among young people.

Her approach is unlikely to be popular with many, especially as she clearly favours increasing alcohol prices in a bid to curtail consumption. But isn’t it good to see a minister taking the opportunity of the power of her position to try to do as she thinks right, of confronting rather than pandering to popular opinion? Too many politicians play it safe, only doing what is popular and populist in a bid to curry electoral favour instead of using the opportunity they have been given to effect real change.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that Shortall’s approach is necessarily going to be correct and have the outcome she desires. And admittedly she is acting on something put in train by her predecessor two years ago, the putting together of a special report on substance misuse. Notwithstanding that however many such reports get buried whereas clearly Shortall is determined not to do so.