THERE is collusion between the Government and the drinks industry, a general practitioners' conference in Killarney heard yesterday.
Dr Declan Murphy, incoming president of the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), said at the group's annual conference that there was "an unhealthy collusion, whether conscious or unconscious" between both. The ICGP has prepared a response to the National Alcohol Policy, published by the Department of Health last year.
"The level of alcohol consumption is related directly to price and availability and general economic prosperity. If you make it more difficult for people to buy, there is strong international evidence you will reduce the consumption," said Dr Murphy.
He said low alcohol drinks should be more attractively priced and the price should then rise depending on the alcohol level.
According to the ICGP response to the National Alcohol Policy, it regretted many recommendations were framed in conditional terms with words like "encourage" and "consider".
"This ... is government policy in relation to alcohol for the foreseeable future," the response statement said.
It also said it appeared the appeasement of the interest groups, including the general public which drinks, "may be a foremost consideration".
"This attitude does not do justice to its own stated objectives, to the public whose lives have been and are being ruined by the effects of alcohol misuse, directly or indirectly."
The role of the drinks industry was now extending into sponsorship, which the ICGP said had major implications for the Government as well as the public.
"Tax revenue from the drinks industry is massive and any lowering of this would have financial implications for the Government. This plan of action appears to have been written with the intention of not upsetting the status quo and will probably succeed."
The issue of sponsorship of sporting and cultural events was "barely discussed" in the policy, "despite the fact that alcohol manufacturers spend vastly more on it than on straightforward advertising."
Damage caused by alcohol abuse was said to cost around £170 million a year. The ICGP said the National Alcohol Policy should have considered the possibility of levying the drinks industry to pay for some of this.
The ICGP was critical that there was no firm commitment to introduce identity cards throughout the State.
One of the most disappointing responses in the policy, according to the ICGP, was that on drunk driving, one of the "evil plagues in our society".