Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 13 October 2021
Joint Committee On Health
Impact of Covid-19 on Addiction Services: Discussion
Mr. Hugh Greaves:
I refer to information and education. The experience of our many different issues over the years has been that information on its own does not change behaviour. Motorbike helmets, seat belts, cigarettes, alcohol and speeding all had information campaigns that did not do anything until regulation was brought in that helped people make those changes. There are a number of areas where information is welcome, as are school programmes when they are done in a structured way but on their own those measures do not bring about change. We are all aware that the drinks industry in particular loves information campaigns because they do not have any impact on their profit margins. We welcome education and information campaigns but they are no replacement for proper regulation on advertising and drink deliveries, etc.
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