There is a serious - and growing - problem concerning alcohol abuse in this country. In recent years, public meetings and conferences have drawn attention to that unpalatable fact.
And the Government has responded by giving the Garda Síochána new powers to monitor licensed premises and to deal with late-night street violence and hooliganism. But until the public at large accepts the need to moderate existing patterns of behaviour, the problem will persist.
The extent of the problem has been set out in stark terms by yesterday's EU study on alcohol consumption within member States. The average volume of alcohol consumed here is twice the level reported by most other European countries, in spite of the fact that more than one-in-five adults do not drink. Fifty-nine per cent of men, aged between 18 and 29 years, engage in binge drinking at least once a week, along with 26 per cent of women. This pattern of behaviour is accompanied by harmful consequences, with high numbers of men reporting they get into fights, are involved in accidents and regret things they have said and done. Work, friendship, homelife and their education suffer to a far greater extent than in other European countries.
The Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin, is in the process of drafting legislation that will control alcohol advertising, sponsorship, marketing and sales promotions. The intention is to publish a Bill next year that will help to protect children and reduce the pressure on adolescents to drink. Such action by the Government will be welcomed. But sporting organisations, clubs and other event organisers should begin the process of reducing the emphasis on alcohol for relaxation and celebration. The round system should be discouraged.
In recent months, new enforcement powers have been given to the Garda in policing licensed premises. Pubs can be fined heavily or closed if drink is sold to inebriated persons or to those under 18 years of age. Closing time has been brought back to 11.30 p.m. on Thursdays. And it is an offence for a young person to be found on a licensed premises after 9 p.m.
The new Intoxicating Liquor Act also allows the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, to make regulations that would help to identify those outlets which sell drink to under-aged persons. There are technical difficulties involved in identifying the point-of-sale of alcohol, but off-licences, supermarkets and convenience stores must shoulder their responsibilities in tackling under-aged drinking. Regulations should be introduced as a matter of urgency.