McDowell’s café bars ‘will worsen’ alcohol crisis

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell’s plan for continental-style café bars will worsen the country’s alcohol problem by making it more readily available, a member of the Strategic Task Force on Alcohol has warned.

In bringing forward the proposal, Mr McDowell is ignoring the recommendations of the alcohol task force established by the Department of Health, according to Dr Joe Barry, a public health lecturer in Trinity College Dublin and member of the National Drugs Team.

He believes the new café bars will only add to the estimated €2.65 billion annual cost to the State of dealing with alcohol-related problems.