Ms Paula Leonard:

Absolutely. We know that alcohol advertising has a huge impact on people's consumption patterns and the decisions they make. It has a particular impact on young people. Young people are particularly susceptible to the lure of alcohol advertising. The Public Health (Alcohol) Act contains some measures on alcohol and advertising, some of which have been introduced. They are really welcome and we very much support them.

In the case of alcohol, we know it is necessary to do many things at the same time. Things must happen in the area of alcohol advertising, but we also must see the introduction of minimum unit pricing, which is scheduled to come in early next year.

The other worrying thing regarding alcohol advertising concerns the provisions in the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018. Senator Black will be all too familiar with those and she worked hard on that agenda for many years. Our worry is that those provisions relate to place-based and physical advertising and advertising in traditional media, such as on television. Alcohol advertising, however, has moved online rapidly and our children are living digital lives. As a member state, Ireland has an opportunity, until November, to support measures in the new global alcohol action plan and we must see intergovernmental action on agreements to address children's exposure to alcohol and alcohol advertising online. These are interactive and attractive advertisements, and young people share them. We must, therefore, see that this issue is dealt with.

Another worrying thing regarding what is having an impact concerns the recommendations in the report of the night-time economy task force. I refer to a proposed extension to the hours in which alcohol can be sold and that it may be made easier for certain venues to access an alcohol licence. Those aspects do not relate directly to alcohol advertising but they are things that all members present and all Members of the Oireachtas should consider and have a position on when the proposed sale of alcohol Bill comes before the Houses for debate early next year.