Leo Varadkar calls for Ireland to tackle its alcohol problem

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has described drugs as a greater killer than road crashes and portrayed Ireland as a country that is dependent on alcohol.

Launching the State’s new national strategy on drug and alcohol use, the Taoiseach said there were 697 drug-related deaths in Ireland during 2014, which was three times the number of road fatalities and 12 times the number of recorded murders.

At a press conference in Dublin Castle, he said he was determined the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill would become law by the end of the year.

The Bill proposes to place restrictions on the sale of alcohol, separate it from other products in retail outlets, and limit advertising. Its progress has been stalled following an intense lobbying campaign in the Seanad.
Mr Varadkar said Ireland, as a country, has a serious problem with alcohol.

Source: Harry McGee,  The Irish Times, 18/07/17