Sir, – Dr Michael Loftus (Letters, July 19th) rightly points to the importance of the Health Research Board’s first report on alcohol related deaths among young people 2004-2008 that was published last week. As the first report of its kind, all of us who wish to see the level of alcohol misuse reduced must study its contents and conclusions.
However, it is worth noting that many of the measures Dr Loftus calls for are already in place in Ireland. We already have among the highest alcohol taxes in Europe. We already have some of the most stringent co-regulatory codes on alcohol marketing, advertising and sponsorship anywhere in the world. We already have reduced our drink driving limits significantly. And we already have introduced a series of measures restricting hours of sale and where and when alcohol can be purchased.
Moreover, during the four-year period that the research was carried out, alcohol consumption in Ireland declined steadily and that since then the rate of decline has accelerated dramatically to the extent that our average consumption is now approaching European norms.
Simplistic calls for further restrictions on alcohol, such as marketing and advertising bans and price increases, are not the magic solution to address alcohol misuse.
Such restrictions will simply punish our export-driven and employment-intensive drinks industry, which continues to provide much-needed jobs and revenue, without addressing the very complex and important issue of alcohol misuse.
Rather, evidence-based proposals, combined with education and information strategically directed at younger people and vulnerable groups campaigns (that, contrary to Dr Loftus’s assertions, have been proven to be effective) are required to produce a more responsible attitude to alcohol in Ireland. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Not for the first time Dr Michael Loftus has set out the appalling problem caused by alcohol (HEALTHplus July 19th). To his suggestion of what is required to get to grips with the problem, I would add a total ban on advertising and promotion of alcohol. That a product, which causes so much damage, is allowed to be promoted in such a glamorous, macho way, and mostly aimed at young people, is little short of criminal. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – In an otherwise excellent article on alcohol abuse in Ireland, Carl O’Brien (Weekend, July 16th) quotes a study by Prof Joe Barry to the effect that if alcohol consumption in Ireland were halved, the reduced demand for hospital beds would save the exchequer €80 million. Your health correspondent made the same point on June 9th. Both ignore some unpleasant fiscal arithmetic (previously pointed out by Brendan Walsh in these columns) that such a halving of consumption would cost the exchequer €450 million in lower tax revenue. – Yours, etc,