Dr. Sheila Gilheany:

I thank the committee for the opportunity to comment on the general scheme of the sale of alcohol Bill. Alcohol Action Ireland welcomes efforts to bring together licensing regulations in a coherent manner. Our view is that this is an opportunity to make clear that the purpose of the licensing of alcohol should be one of protecting health. That should be stated clearly in the proposed Bill.

It is also an opportunity to make statutory provision for the systematic collation of relevant data around alcohol. For example, disclosure of the level of annual alcohol sales should be a condition of licensing. Equally, there should be statutory monitoring of harms such as alcohol-related assaults, domestic and gender-based violence, public order offences, ambulance call-outs, admissions to emergency departments, etc. These should be done with particular reference to location. Coupled with evidence of alcohol sales in specific areas, this would allow for informed decision-making about the granting or renewal of licences.

We are also concerned that in a proposed Bill that is ostensibly about the streamlining of legislation, there has been a sudden move to make provision to extend licensing hours and increase density of outlets. There is an assumption that to have enhanced cultural experiences and nightlife, there must be additional provision for alcohol sales. We challenge this view. Indeed, the success of the very family-friendly Culture Night festival shows this is not the case. Likewise, there is a view that tourism is dependent on the pub. Pubs are unique, but they are not central to the tourist offering, as Fáilte Ireland visitor surveys confirm.

On another issue, the evidence from multiple jurisdictions is clear, as outlined in our written submission to the committee. Increasing alcohol availability, whether through longer licensing hours or increased density of outlets, leads to a range of harms. For example, a one-hour extension of alcohol outlet closing times in Amsterdam's nightlife areas was associated with 34% more alcohol-related injuries. A similar study in Norway found that each additional one-hour extension was associated with a 16% increase in violent crime. There is also a close association with increased levels of domestic violence. The corollary is also true in that restrictions can reduce both parental alcohol consumption and violence towards children. For instance, in the US, it has been estimated that one fewer alcohol outlet per 1,000 people would reduce the probability of severe violence towards children by 4%. Such knowledge cannot be ignored in a country where, every day, 200,000 children live with the trauma of alcohol harm in the home.

Alcohol is responsible for four deaths every day, a third of which are from accident or incident. Alcohol-related harm costs Ireland at least €3.7 billion annually, including €1.2 billion to the justice system. Without a change, our GDP will be nearly 2% lower on average between now and 2050. Consideration should be given to the implementation of a polluter pays principle and, like the measures in the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022, include provision for a social impact fund in regard to the licensing of alcohol sales. We urge the committee to reflect on these facts and to act to put public interest above vested interest.