Sir, - On the Six-One News last evening (July 10th), I was interested to listen to Minister Micheβl Martin discussing his forthcoming publicity programme Alcohol Abuse directed specifically towards our young and teenage generation and which was very well covered in The Irish Times (July 11th). Immediately after Minister Martin's address there was an advertisement break. I said to my self what's the betting the first advertisement will be in respect of alcohol. I was wrong - it was the second - advertising a brand of beer.
Minister Martin was speaking at the announcement of a poster and radio campaign commencing next week. How do you equate discussing the abuse and dangers of alcohol on prime-time television and less than two minutes later on the same channel there is an advertisement for a particular brand of beer. It beggars belief!
Why is it not possible to ban all advertising on radio and television as was done in respect of cigarettes and tobacco some years ago. Is it because RT╔ would lose a large part of its advertising revenue?
In your excellent leading article (July 11th), you touched on this aspect of the matter when you mentioned the overwhelming effect alcohol has on the lives of our young people, not to mention the devastating effect on families who have suffered as a result of a family member being alcoholic dependent.
Perhaps some effort may be made to ban all advertising on radio and television and that Minister Martin's campaign will have some success. - Yours, etc.,
Kevin A. Scully, Santry, Dublin 9.