“The report commissioned by the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland (ABFI), ‘Sustainable Growth of the Drinks Industry’, amounts to little more than a direct attack on the forthcoming Public Health (Alcohol) Bill and an attempt to resist much-needed regulation of the alcohol industry.
“The measures within the Bill are a crucial first step in our efforts to reduce alcohol harm and improve our health, safety and wellbeing. Most importantly, they can save lives. The three key evidence-based areas for tackling a harmful drinking culture – pricing, marketing and availability – are represented in the legislation, which is encouraging, as is the move to introduce labelling, with independent health information provided by the State.
“Alcohol misuse claims three lives every day in Ireland and has a hugely damaging impact on our nation’s physical and mental health. It’s also important, in the context of the forthcoming legislation, to remember that the harm that is caused by our alcohol consumption extends far beyond the individual who is drinking, to impact on families, their own or other people’s, and communities throughout Ireland. Alcohol places a huge burden on our health services, costs the State an estimated €3.7 billion per year and plays a major driving role in serious issues such as road safety, crime, self-harm, suicide, domestic violence, and child welfare.
“Despite all of this, the ABFI report claims we should continue with the existing systems of self-regulation established by the industry itself, which have proven to be completely ineffective in terms of protecting the public from alcohol harm. The Government must ignore attacks by vested interests on the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill and prioritise the health, safety and wellbeing of Irish people.”
Source: Alcohol Action Ireland, 12/11/15
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