Not the answer

IT is widely agreed that we have a problem with alcohol which will require a cultural change.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s initiative to move from superpubs to a cafe culture could represent a move in that direction.

However, his proposals as currently constructed will not achieve his aim as he has missed the opportunity to do anything that will impact on superpubs in the short term. All he is doing is adding new licences without addressing the current problematic patterns of alcohol consumption.