Alcohol sponsorship of major sports events will be phased out, but not until alternative sources of funding for sporting organisations are found, ministers have agreed.
Nor has a date or time period been agreed on the issue of banning drink companies sponsoring sporting events, Government sources said yesterday.
Speaking in Donegal, Taoiseach Enda Kenny confirm-ed that ministers were presented with details from one of the health ministers about measures to tackle excessive drinking.
He said: "We recognise this is a complex issue. There is still a great deal more work to be done. We did not put any dates on this because there’s a great deal more to be considered."
Agreement on a package of measures to eventually ban sports sponsorship by alcohol companies was reached at a Cabinet sub-committee meeting last Monday. Other measures which look set to be agreed include a ban on below-cost selling of drinks and restrictions on drinks advertising.
Despite reports yesterday that 2020 is when sponsorship must cease completely, sources close to ministers said nothing was set in stone until alternative funding sources were identified.
The Government’s long-awaited action plan on alcohol sponsorship had been expected to come before Cabinet before the summer break. Ministers, following months of wrangling, are instead likely to agree to a package of measures in September.
Source: Irish Examiner, 29/07/2013
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