AS A SOCIETY, we have a serious and worsening problem with alcohol. That abuse is not confined to young people, even though adults complain and wring their hands over the damage being caused to the younger generation. When it comes to doing something about the situation, however, through tackling drink-driving, public order offences or the cost of alcohol, courage appears to fail us and diversionary tactics are employed.
Government Chief Whip Tom Kitt was at it during the week. While some of his Fianna Fáil colleagues were resisting proposals to reduce blood alcohol limits for motorists, he suggested a doubling of penalty points on bank holiday weekends. It certainly received publicity and distracted attention from his colleagues' concerns that a cut in alcohol limits would "cripple rural pubs".
Road Safety Authority chief executive Noel Brett has made the point that we all favour road safety measures until they begin to impact on us. Then we find all sorts of excuses to justify why necessary changes should not be introduced. That is the case with drink-driving, with late opening hours and with the sale of cheap alcohol. They all contribute to abuses of one kind or another. And we all fail in our civic duty to confront them in an effective manner. That responsibility may start with the Government. But it ends with each and every one of us.
Still, leadership is a primary component in any process of change. And it has been sadly lacking. One encouraging development has involved Garda authorities and local communities in Donegal and Sligo limiting nightclub opening hours because of an increasing number of public order offences. This sends a clear signal to all concerned. Elsewhere, the message has been garbled. The sale of cut-price alcohol in supermarkets and service stations remains unchecked. Requests by medical experts for an increase in excise duties were ignored. Road safety measures are condemned because of their likely impact on the pub trade.
The Australian practice of doubling penalty points on bank holiday weekends, as advocated by Mr Kitt, is progressive. But it represents the final brick in a legislative wall. It is police policy there to breath-test two thirds of all motorists each year. For the past 20 years, the alcohol limits being debated here have operated there. And there is compulsory blood testing for both drivers and pedestrians in hospital. Australians are serious about alcohol abuse. When we face up to our responsibilities, a doubling of penalty points may be relevant.