More forceful intervention needed

BUSINESS and social interests do not always run in harmony. Conflict is almost inevitable and we have a long record of appeasement, of tolerating something we might find unattractive because jobs are involved or at least promised.

We seem to accept public health threats more easily than we should too. We may condemn smoking because of its dreadful, unrelenting toll, and introduce stringent controls, but we still spend taxes generated by tobacco sales.

Smoking has been replaced though, by the curse of obesity, especially among children, on the public health to-do list. It is becoming the affliction of our time and is all the more frustrating because it is caused by poor lifestyle choices.

The State has, through programmes such as the Healthy Eating Policy in Post Primary Schools, tried to confront this epidemic, but it still seems less forceful than it might be.

Legislation on banning fast food outlets near schools and maybe even new taxes on sugar or junk food have been spoken of, but controls with real teeth are awaited.

This is exemplified by the fact that three schools in Greystones, Co Wicklow have come together to oppose plans to build a fast food outlet in their neighbourhood. It says more than is admirable about our society that this challenge falls to schools. Traditionally, we have afforded great rights to property but surely that does not extend to permitting a threat to our children’s health?