The Dublin conference on "Alcohol, Ethics & Society" has been criticised by Dr Michael Loftus of the Irish National Alliance for Action on Alcohol.
Dr Loftus maintains that the organisation behind it is funded by 11 major international beverage alcohol companies and is set up to benefit the drinks industry, rather than to benefit health or the public good. The conference on alcohol use is being run by the International Centre for Alcohol Policies (ICAP) in conjunction with the National College of Ireland.
"They ought to carry a public health warning," said Dr Loftus. He was speaking in support of a report published yesterday by a European campaign group against alcoholic harm, Eurocare.
Dr Loftus also expressed his surprise that the National College of Ireland was so closely involved with ICAP in the organisation of this conference on alcohol.
Responding to his comments, Ms Joyce O'Connor, president of the National College of Ireland, said the reason they were holding the conference was to open up the issue of the harmful effects of alcohol.
"We always encourage debate with people with different perspectives. We've tried to create an environment where people can talk openly," said Ms O'Connor.
"This issue concerns all stakeholders; we have to put it up to the industry that what they say and do are only meaningful if embedded in values," she said.