FG says image of drinking as ‘glamorous’ must end

THE IMAGE of alcohol consumption as a “glamorous pastime” must be ended in an effort to combat Ireland’s drinking culture, Fine Gael said yesterday.

The party’s spokesman on justice Charlie Flanagan said the links between alcohol and the country’s sport and cultural life must also end, and he called for a zero alcohol limit for provisional drivers.

Mr Flanagan has proposed a 10-point plan to tackle alcohol misuse in the wake of Monday’s HSE report that found consumption rose by nearly 3 per cent in 2007. The report also found that almost half of all those who committed homicides were intoxicated when they committed their crimes, and that alcohol-related hospital discharges increased by 92 per cent between 1995 and 2002.

Mr Flanagan said the findings of the report should serve as a “watershed for tough, new laws to curb the spiral of drunkenness and violence”.

“The criminal justice system has adopted a wholly inconsistent approach to alcohol. Last year 91,000 late-night bar extensions were granted by the courts, and drinking is being used as a defence in criminal prosecutions.”

Mr Flanagan said Fine Gael’s 10-point plan would be a “short, sharp shock” to Irish society.

The document includes:

l tougher rules on the sale of alcohol to under-age drinkers;

l a total ban on advertising, sponsorship and promotion, along with clear public health warnings on alcohol labelling;

l an examination of licensing of nightclubs and fast-food venues;

l the reduction of the maximum blood/alcohol level to zero for provisional drivers and 0.5mg for all other drivers;

l the reduction of demand through initiatives at school and community level;

l limits on the number of pubs and on the size of licensed premises;

l the establishment of a Cabinet justice sub-committee to implement the recommendations and monitor progress.