The Irish Bishops’ Drugs and Alcohol Initiative (IBDI) has welcomed the Government’s proposal to introduce a minimum cost for alcohol in retail outlets.IBDI vice-chair Bishop Éamonn Walsh expressed his support for the announcement by Minister for State Roisin Shorthall, who holds governmental responsibility for primary care and substance abuse, that legislation is in train that will determine a minimum price for alcohol.
“Alcohol is no ordinary consumer commodity and should always be used responsibly and in moderation,” Bishop Walsh said.
He explained that as alcohol is used by multiple-retailers as a loss-leader it means that alcohol is both available relatively cheaply and is placed in prominent areas within supermarkets.
“The reluctance of Government not to increase the cost of alcohol in recent budgets has also contributed to the relative cheap cost of alcohol over the last decade in the State,” he said.
“Minister Shorthall is correct that price control of alcohol is but one of a number factors which needs to be addressed in order to arrest the increasing level of alcohol misuse in our society.
Cultural factors and the prevalence of alcohol advertising in the Irish context also need to be
looked at closely,” the IBDI vice-chair warned.
In a statement issued on Monday, Bishop Walsh called for a cross-sectional dialogue between Government, multiple-retailer, the drinks industry and the consumer, to radically improve the Irish relationship with alcohol.
“Fundamentally, alcohol misuse is a public health concern which needs a remedy such as a unique New Year’s resolution between the various parties,” Bishop Walsh said. “Such a cross-sectional dialogue should be our starting point for 2012,” he concluded.
Minister Shorthall said on the RTÉ Radio One Morning Ireland programme on Monday, that dearer alcohol alone would not reduce the problem of alcohol abuse and underage drinking.
However, she underlined that, "Alcohol is available at an all-time low price and that causes or contributes to problems associated with drinking, particularly with younger people but also with people who are problem drinkers."
She said drinking is a cultural problem that needs to be tackled holistically.
It is estimated that alcohol abuse costs the State €3.7bn per year through illness, absenteeism and crime.
The Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative was established in 1997 as a Church response to the growing problem of drug and alcohol misuse in Ireland.
Over 250 parishes throughout the North and South are involved in this pastoral initiative.
The IBDI chairperson is Ms Patricia Conway.