Professor Joe Barry:

Nobody is talking about prohibition. The Deputy asked about the bigger picture. There are approximately 40 recommendations, across many domains, in the substance misuse strategy. Some of the recommendations relate to the availability of cheap drink. It has been recommended that corner shops should not be able to sell drink as they can at present. The approach that has been taken with regard to drink-driving has been very successful. There has been a big improvement on the roads as a result of the legislation that was needed in that case. Some of the recommendations relate to marketing, promotions and culture. Sport and music are the two biggest forms of culture that grab the hearts and minds of Irish people of all ages. There is strong evidence that the potential and the reality of people drinking more - particularly younger people - increases when the alcohol industry gets itself gripped onto sports. We are all pro-sport. Our problem relates to the sporting bodies. I think the GAA is different because it has alternative strategies. It has taken a very public position on drink for quite a while.