Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this Bill in terms of its many amendments to existing legislation. I am glad to have an opportunity to speak to a number of them in the presence of the Minister of State, Deputy Moloney, given his association with the Department of Health and Children. The provisions in regard to alcohol and the practice of the sale of alcohol are important in current times given the damage caused to health by over-indulgence in alcohol and the huge cost in this regard to the Health Service Executive and Department of Health and Children. Excessive drinking also results in accidents and deaths and on family life.

I wish to draw a particular issue to the attention of the Minister of State, namely, the fact that for the past two years British based companies have been marketing high potent alcohol shot packs in this country. They sought and got agents for the distribution and sale of these products in Ireland. These shots are also readily available on the Internet. I believe those with responsibility in respect of advertising should have raised questions in regard to the type of advertising promoted by these companies. The terminology used in the promotion of these shots includes, "easy to pour" and "immediate ready for use anywhere".

This advertising is targeted at young people in particular. Young people attend concerts and sporting events and these shots can be easily concealed on the person and thus consumed at these events. It is clear from all of this advertising that it is young people who are being targeted. There is a high percentage of alcohol in these shots.

I previously asked in this House that the Minister for Health and Children seek to prevent the sale of these packs of shots, in particular as they are promoted from outside the country. One can purchase packs of shots at any roadside filling station, although they may not be of the same brand of which I am speaking, which should not be the case regardless of whether these outlets have a licence to sell alcohol.

See this speech in context