Drinking responsibly

Madam, – The recent turmoil in Irish society has revealed that institutions, be they banks or the Catholic church cannot self…

Madam, – The recent turmoil in Irish society has revealed that institutions, be they banks or the Catholic church cannot self-regulate. Recent history has shown that without an objective system of checks and balances organisations appear to lose their way.

Sadly the truth is that this will happen again without proper regulation being built in and rigorously applied. Is it not time now to begin regulation of the drinks industry? Am I the only one who sees young people drinking themselves into oblivion? Do we really believe that people take seriously the advice to “drink responsibly” written in tiny letters on the ads for alcohol?

Does anybody look on the website www.drinkaware.ie and take that advice? The answer is simply No. It’s time we grew up as a nation and took responsibility for ourselves and particularly for our young people. Proper regulation is needed.

– Yours, etc,

CIARAN CARNEY, Aranleigh Vale, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.