Consumption of alcohol up for second year in row

OIREACHTAS COMMITTEE: HEALTH:THE AMOUNT of alcohol being consumed by Irish adults increased last year for the second year in a row, provisional figures from the Central Statistics Office and Revenue Commissioners show.

Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer at the Department of Health, told the Oireachtas Committee on Health yesterday that “the provisional figures from the CSO” showed the average per capita consumption of pure alcohol increased from 11.9 litres in 2010 to just under 12 litres (11.97 litres) last year.

“That’s against the background of increased affordability of alcohol,” he said.

Dr Holohan was addressing the committee as chairman of the department’s steering group which drew up the National Substance Misuse Strategy, along with Minister of State for Primary Care, Róisín Shortall. The strategy aims to cut average alcohol consumption to 9.1 litres of alcohol by each adult.

The committee also heard about plans to end home deliveries of alcohol. Ms Shortall said she planned to end “distance sales” of alcohol, to include the purchase of alcohol online from supermarkets, takeaways and off-licence delivery services. “The question is whether we need a change in law or greater enforcement of legislation.”

There was unanimous support from committee members for the strategy, which calls for a ban on all sponsorship by drinks companies of sporting and large outdoor events, a ban on all outdoor advertising of alcohol, an increase in excise duties on some alcohol products and the introduction of a minimum price for each gram of alcohol.

Chairman Jerry Buttimer TD (Fine Gael) said it was “important our unhealthy relationship with alcohol is faced head on. We must have the courage of our convictions.”

Denis Naughten TD (Fine Gael) said: “We all accept the huge and damaging impact alcohol is having on Irish families.” He criticised supermarket advertisements this weekend “focusing on special drinks promotions for St Patrick’s Day”.

Dr Holohan said a minimum price per gram of alcohol to end alcohol being sold very cheaply would have an impact on overall alcohol consumption.

Asked what sort of minimum price the department was looking at, he said the Scottish parliament was planning a price equivalent of between 5 cents and 10 cents a gram of alcohol.

If a minimum price of 7 cents a gram was legislated for here, a 500ml can of beer with an alcohol content of 4 per cent would have to cost at least €1.40, he said, or a 750ml bottle of wine with an alcohol content of 13 per cent would be priced at a minimum of €6.82.

Legislation would be introduced to ensure all alcoholic products were labelled with details of how many grams of alcohol and calories were in the product.