Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for not being here for part of the meeting. I had to go to my office to meet somebody. I have read the research group's document and I listened to Dr. Holmes's contribution on the monitor in my office. I have three or four questions. This committee receives many documents. This is very much an evidence-based document. I have to say it is one of the most interesting documents I have read in a long time. It highlights many different areas about which we might not have not thought previously, which we will have to look into. If the questions I am about to ask have already been asked, I apologise and ask Dr. Holmes and Dr. Angus to skip over them.

Do the witnesses believe minimum unit pricing will bring people back towards social drinking in local pubs and restaurants? There is a feeling among a certain cohort that if something can be done to increase the price of alcohol, it might encourage people to drink less at home and bring them into more controlled social surroundings. Do the witnesses believe minimum unit pricing will reduce the consumption of alcohol among those under the age of 25? Do they believe people in lower socioeconomic groups will reduce their consumption of alcohol if minimum unit pricing is introduced, or will they continue to drink as they do at present? The document provided by the research group shows that people in these groups drink an average of 43.2 standard drinks per week. Will they continue to drink at home or will they go to the local pub? Do the witnesses believe education plays a role in giving young people an opportunity to understand the serious health issues that are associated with drinking alcohol? I refer particularly to binge drinking among young teenagers. I apologise if some of my questions have been asked already.