A national alcohol and injuries study is being introduced in hospital A&E departments as part of the Government's alcohol awareness campaign.
At a press conference yesterday to launch the pre-Christmas phase of the campaign, the Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin, said the initiative was focused on the problem of binge-drinking in the 18-29 year age group.
The study will measure the incidence of alcohol-related injuries which are thought to be on the increase.
Mr Martin said a national television and radio advertising campaign would begin in the coming weeks. Information and awareness projects would also be introduced at regional level and in colleges.
"All of us who are committed to re-positioning alcohol in the public mind know that the trailing clouds of the alcohol culture can't be blown away with one campaign or indeed several campaigns," he said.
"We have to move on a number of fronts with infinite patience, enormous cross-disciplinary co- operation and relentless determination."
The Minister also released results of a new survey commissioned by the Department of Health into attitudes to alcohol by Lansdowne Market Research.
Almost 90 per cent of those surveyed supported a ban on children in public houses after 7 p.m. and the introduction of restrictions on alcohol advertising on TV and in public places. Strong support for random breath-testing and a lower minimum blood alcohol level was also reported.
Fianna Fáil TD Dr Jimmy Devins said the survey showed people were concerned about alcohol abuse and wanted greater protection for young people, including restrictions on alcohol advertising on television and in other areas.
He called on the Minister for Health to look again at the regulations on children in pubs and the laws governing the advertising of drink.
"It has become clear for some time now that as a country we do have a drink problem, unfortunately this will not be solved by a single information campaign," he said.