Sir, – Minister for Health Leo Varadkar will take an important first step towards tackling Ireland’s harmful relationship with alcohol in the coming weeks, when he brings the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill back to the Houses of the Oireachtas.
This Bill contains important evidence-based initiatives that can save lives and reduce the health harms caused by alcohol that affect virtually every family in Ireland. Every day, three people die in Ireland as a result of alcohol use, some as a result of drink-driving.
Actions have consequences. Personal responsibility regarding alcohol and driving is undermined by the low level of successful prosecution for individuals brought before the courts.
We have taken great strides to make our roads safer with the introduction of random breath-testing and other legislative initiatives that have reduced the number of deaths related to alcohol.
It is very disappointing and shocking to learn that only 40 per cent of drink-driving cases listed before the country's district courts since January 2013 resulted in convictions ("More than half of drink-drive cases escape conviction", October 19th). This compares to 97 per cent in England. Furthermore, the rate of successful prosecution was highly variable from court to court. Finally, many of those found guilty did not have their licence numbers noted in court for endorsement.
I believe that many more lives could be saved and catastrophic injuries avoided with better enforcement of road traffic legislation with regards to alcohol use.
Legislation to save lives such as drink-driving is only effective if it is implemented. I propose that a review be undertaken to identify and eliminate barriers to successful prosecution and endorsement, and to simplify the process if necessary.
Reducing harm to health due to alcohol requires many initiatives to be effective. It is essential that drink-driving has consequences that are detected and enforced effectively and consistently. – Yours, etc,
Prof FRANK MURRAY,
President,
Royal College of Physicians
of Ireland,
Dublin 2.