Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 595: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding his plans to devise a new strategy around combined substance misuse; if such a strategy has been devised and launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9189/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The report of the National Substance Misuse Strategy Steering Group was launched on the 7th of February last. The report contains a range of recommendations to, among other things, reduce the consumption of alcohol in general. As is the case with the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 the recommendations are grouped under five pillars of Supply Reduction, Prevention, Treatment, Rehabilitation and Research.

The main recommendations include: increase the price of alcohol so that it becomes less affordable; introduce a legislative basis for minimum pricing, along with a 'social responsibility' levy on the drinks industry; commence Section 9 (structural separation of alcohol from other products in supermarkets, etc) of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008; introduce legislation and statutory codes to provide for a 9.00 p.m. watershed for alcohol advertising on television and radio; alcohol advertising in cinemas to only be associated with films classified as being suitable for over-18s; prohibition of all outdoor advertising of alcohol; and all alcohol advertising in the print media to be subject to stringent codes, enshrined in legislation and independently monitored; phase out drinks industry sponsorship of sport and other large public events by 2016; develop a system to monitor the enforcement of the provisions of the intoxicating liquor legislation; establish a Clinical Directorate to develop the clinical and organisational governance framework to underpin treatment and rehabilitation services; develop early intervention guidelines for alcohol and substance use across all relevant sectors of the health and social care system. This will include a national screening and brief intervention protocol for early identification of problem alcohol use.

The recommendations of the Steering Group on alcohol will encourage public debate and the Minister envisages an Action Plan being developed in advance of proposals being drafted for Government.

The policies on alcohol agreed by Government, taken with the National Drugs Strategy, will comprise the overall National Substance Misuse Strategy in line with the Programme for Government commitment to a National Addiction Strategy dealing with both drugs and alcohol.