Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I tabled a Private Members’ motion on addiction and the wide range of issues related to it some months ago. Deputy Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan opened up the debate on legalising cannabis this week and we are having a debate this morning on alcohol sponsorship of sports.

All Members acknowledge the unhealthy relationship that people have with alcohol. We know the costs to the health service and in terms of crime. Alcohol is a contributory factor in 90% of public order offences, for example. Alcohol and drugs are also linked to early school leaving, bad social conditions and crime. There are an increasing number of children in need of child protection services because of their families’ misuse and abuse of alcohol and drugs. It is the most common date-rape drug and is used in many cases to facilitate sexual assaults. There are really alarming figures on the increasing levels of liver disease, particularly among young people in their late teens and early 20s. Alcohol is also the gateway drug for so many people.

It is unfortunate that every event from the cradle to the grave in Ireland is associated with alcohol. We see its easy availability, cheapness and acceptance. More frighteningly, there is a social acceptance of drunkenness and at-home drinking. It must be acknowledged that the majority drink moderately, using it socially and for enjoyment. However, these are not the people who end up in accident and emergency departments or in prison cells at the weekend.

There is an unfortunate connection - I use that term loosely - between alcohol and certain figures in the artistic, literary and music worlds, in which alcohol use is seen as being acceptable. The Brendan Behans, the Ernest Hemingways, the Dylan Thomases, the Richard Harrises and the Richard Burtons did not contribute to the cause of moderation. We see this occurring again with certain figures in the music industry today. The media have a major role in not portraying this kind of behaviour as fun, acceptable and harmless.

I am involved with the prevention and education sub-committee of the north Dublin inner city drugs task force. Recently, we held two youth conventions with 110 secondary students from the north east of the city and 85 from the north west. We discussed the positives and the negatives of their usual night out, including alcohol promotion and the influences on what they drink, the media, minimum pricing and the age limit, along with the prevention and education strategies that worked and that did not. We listened to the young people without lecturing them. It is important when this topic is discussed that we listen to young people directly, not those in organisations that claim they are representing young people but whose members are long past their teens. I mean no disrespect to those involved, but there is much sense, wisdom and insight coming from young people.

There was a mixed response to the question about drinks companies' sponsorship of sports events. Some of the answers in support of such sponsorship were interesting. They pointed out that the organisations needed the money, that it did not influence their drinking because they buy the cheapest drink anyway, that it is the advertisements that encourage them to drink more rather than the sponsorship, that people will drink anyway and, finally, that it is just sponsorship and not promotion. What was interesting was that they were not fully aware of the harmful effects of alcohol. Those who were against it saw the contradiction in that sports are part of a healthy lifestyle, while alcohol is bad for one.

This debate is vital. I believe there should not be alcohol sponsorship of sporting events, but this must be part of a wider strategy. Why would the drinks companies spend so much money on sponsorship unless they were getting something from it? I have doubts about the ring-fencing provision. It is like saying one can drink as much as one likes but the alcohol companies will pick up the bill for alcohol-related diseases. We need to listen to young people because they have good insights and suggestions in this regard.

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