Vodka sachets - Booze in bag will fuel our drink crisis

IT is the height of cynicism to suggest that selling vodka in a sachet will not lead to greater consumption of spirits among teenagers and make the problem of under-age drinking even worse.

It is equally disingenuous to pretend the controversial new drink product now being launched on the Irish market is not aimed at young people.

If anything it is verging on blatant hypocrisy given the loud warnings coming from vintners and Health Minister Micheál Martin, both cautioning that the easily concealed cellophane package containing a 30ml shot of vodka will intensify the booze problems confronting young people in Ireland.