Government is accused of being 'enabler' of drinks industry

The code of practice for the drinks industry had not been complied with in the spirit in which it was intended, the Taoiseach told the Dail.

Mr Ahern said he had been told this by the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, who, he said, had already announced that he was looking at extending the ban on alcohol advertising in certain areas.

"There is a review group considering intoxicating liquor licensing to see what can be done in that area. There are Department of Health and Education initiatives to encourage people to drink socially and in moderation, particularly those using products along with spirits," said Mr Ahern. He was replying to Mr Joe Higgins, (Socialist Party, Dublin West), who said that last Thursday's RTÉ Prime Time programme had revealed "an appalling glimpse of the shocking damage which the dangerous pattern of alcohol over-consumption has inflicted on individuals and social life, and the shocking drain on the emergency and health services".

He asked the Taoiseach if he was personally ashamed that the Government had presided over a dramatic increase in the abusive consumption of alcohol.

"Does he believe that it is criminal that the drinks industry should be allowed to portray and freely advertise their products in the national media as something trendy, sexy, seductive, a virtual gateway to paradise for those who consume - when, as we saw, the grim reality is that after midnight their product finishes up on the streets of our cities and towns as vomit, real and social?" He accused the Taoiseach and his ministers of being enablers of the drinks industry by helping it cast it in a favourable light.

He pressed the Taoiseach to join him in calling on sporting organisations to immediately cut their links with drinks companies.

Mr Ahern said the Minister for Health had made his displeasure known about the issues raised by Mr Higgins, including advertising linked to sport. He added that people should be reminded that it was "highly illegal" to serve under-age people with alcohol.