Cabinet agrees new plans to combat alcohol abuse

The Government has unveiled wide-ranging measures aimed at combating alcohol abuse. They include stricter controls on advertising to young people and the return of pub closing hours on Thursdays to 11.30 p.m.

The plans, agreed at a meeting of Cabinet this morning, will involve the drafting of two separate Bills designed to fight the growing problems cause by the abuse of alcohol in Ireland, which is estimated to cost the Irish economy over €2.4 billion a year.

The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, announced that a new Intoxicating Liquor Bill will be drafted. It will contain provisions for stricter penalties for selling alcohol to underage or drunk people and for "riotous behaviour and disorderly conduct" on licensed premises.

Other measures include the return of closing times on Thursday to 11.30 p.m. and the extension of powers to non-uniformed gardaí to raid premises. Temporary banning orders on licensed premises found to be in breach of the law will also be more widely used.

All children under the age of 18 will be excluded from bars after 8.00 p.m. and all people under 21 will be required by law to carry ID to prove they are overage at all times they are on licensed premises.

Mr McDowell also said he would be seeking to amend the Equal Status Act to grant licencees discretion to exclude under 18s and the right to set the minimum age for drinking on their premises.

Simultaneously, the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, said he was drafting legislation to impose limits on alcohol advertising on TV, radio, cinema, magazines, schools, youth centres, public transport, and public buildings.

Under the law, ads will be monitored to ensure they are not targeted at the youth market and the drinks industry will be banned from sponsoring young people's sport and leisure activities.

A watershed for alcohol advertising will also be introduced on radio, TV and in the cinema.

"Presently, alcohol advertisements infringe the Irish alcohol advertising codes in a number of ways, including the linking of alcohol use with social or sexual success and implying that alcohol has therapeutic effects," Mr Martin said. "Based on the inadequacy of the current codes, there is a compelling case for an overhaul of the alcohol advertising codes."

Mr Martin said alcohol related problems cost Irish society approximately €2.4 billion per year. He said the Government would be developing a major information programme to raise awareness of alcohol issues.