The singer Mary Coughlan yesterday called for a Government ban on alcohol advertising and described the damaging impact her own alcoholism had on her family.
Endorsing a pre-Christmas campaign by Barnardos calling for a change in the "deep-rooted culture of alcohol", Ms Coughlan said the Government was bolstering up the drinks industry. She took exception to alcohol advertising on billboards and at sporting events, pointing out that every bus shelter from Bray to Dublin used by school children currently carries alcohol advertisements.
This Christmas will be her ninth consecutive sober holiday and would be a happy period, she said, but there were thousands of other families who would experience the problem drinking that her family endured for years. She recalled that on Christmas 10 years ago she was hooked up to machines in hospital after she "got locked as usual".
Ms Coughlan was critical of vintners and the drinks industry. Citing some of the current alcohol advertisements, she said the Government "has a lot to answer for allowing the promotion of alcohol on billboards and in sports. It should be removed."
The Minister of State for Children, Mr Brian Lenihan, said there was a need to curb alcohol advertising, specifically those aimed at young people.
He said he had referred the issue of drink consumption to the Children's Advisory Council, which will bring its findings to him in the next year.
Mr Lenihan also said it was his personal belief that warning labels should be put on alcohol bottles.
As part of its Families Under the Influence campaign, Barnardos wants a commitment from political parties that they will always favour the interests of young people over the drinks industry, a ban on alcohol advertising aimed at youth and an end to alcohol sponsorship of sports.
It is also seeking a review of measures to combat underage drinking, including an age-card scheme and a tax on alcohol industry profits to fund facilities for young people.
The chief executive of Barnardos, Mr Owen Keenan, said our society was saturated with drink, and children and young people had the right to be protected from the negative impact of alcohol. It was estimated that alcohol-related problems cost society a total €2.4 billion each year.
"Barnardos wants Government leadership that acknowledges the extent of the problem and is committed to concerted, radical action to change our behaviour in relation to drinking," he added.
Ms Coughlan was joined in endorsing the campaign by actor and musician, Mr Don Baker, who had an alcoholic father and has had 15 years of therapy to deal with his own drink problem.