Sir, – Prof Frank Murray (December 15th) provides us with a convincing and compelling argument for the creation of minimum unit pricing for alcohol. He emphasises the consequences of drinking to excess and points out the number of lives that could be saved should minimum unit pricing be introduced.
Here in Britain similar concerns have been aired by authoritative bodies such as the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and the British Medical Association, which are calling for not only minimum unit pricing but also a ban on alcohol advertising and increasing to 21 the age at which one can purchase the stuff. Regrettably the British government, possibly hiding behind European directives, is vacillating and perhaps reluctant to take on the drinks industry, a powerful lobby which spends some £800 million a year promoting its products.
I cannot add to the eloquence or authority of Prof Murray, but his views resonate with many of us this side of the Irish Sea. The collateral damage brought about through excessive drinking in incontrovertible. It is evident in domestic violence, assaults, anti-social behaviour and of, course, untold damage to our health. – Yours, etc,
FRANK GREANEY,
Formby, Liverpool.
Sir, – The opinion piece by Derek Byrne ("Clear policy needed to tackle alcohol fallout", December 14th) regarding Ireland's alarming alcohol abuse problems highlights again the lack of coherent Government policy in this area.
On October 7th, you published a report by your correspondent Mark Hennessy on a recent Scottish study on alcohol abuse which showed that there were 13,000 deaths in Scotland between 2002 and 2011 directly caused by drinking habits ("Areas with many pubs have triple the alcohol deaths, says Scottish study") .
What was particularly shocking about that report was the statistical correlation between the number of drinking licences issued in an area and the significantly increased number of alcohol-related deaths within the associated catchment areas. The study demonstrated that whereas hospital admission rates for alcohol-related illness were constant in neighbourhoods with fewer than six off-licences and nine pubs within a 10-minute walk, the admission statistics more than tripled when there was an increase in the number of outlets selling alcohol.
In particular the study highlighted that off-licences were a leading contributor to alcohol abuse and illness, as also is the practice of shopping outlets using alcohol as a loss-leader in competition among stores.
It will come as no surprise that the highest number of deaths were in the poorest communities.
I haven’t seen a similar study published in Ireland, but given the very close cultural connections between Scotland and Ireland, it would be highly likely that similar patterns and statistics apply here.
Local planning authorities should take note and government should take the lead in ensuring more coherent health-related strategies to combat our epidemic of alcohol abuse. – Yours, etc,
Dr VINCENT KENNY,
Knocklyon,
Dublin 16.