Fresh row over ban on alcohol sponsors in sport

Junior Health Minister Alex White has said that the connection between sport and alcohol is "wrong" and should be broken.

His comments came as a fresh row was brewing over plans to ban advertising by alcohol companies at sporting events.

The Cabinet is considering proposals to address alcohol addiction, which include a plan to stop alcohol sponsorship of sports events by 2020.

Sports Minister Leo Varadkar has opposed a ban. Mr White has been backed by Labour colleagues in supporting it.

Yesterday, the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications waded into the row and recommended that the proposed ban be dropped.

However, Mr White has restated his support for the ban.

"My view is that we should break the link between alcohol and sport," he said.