Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy. As a mother of three sons who are thankfully now older, I can empathise with her concerns about young people. We have to approach this on a number of different levels. Enforcement is one part. My own view is that the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill is really important legislation. I am struck again and again by the ambivalent attitudes often displayed in this House when it comes to alcohol legislation. I must say I regret that. We need to be sending clear messages about our approach, within the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill and other legislation that is being recommended at present. We either want to deal with this issue or we do not. It requires a very serious and thorough approach. The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill is a very important part of getting the message across to our young people. The provisions in it aimed specifically at children are really important. The Bill makes provision for restrictions on the content, placement and volume of alcohol advertising. We all know that is so important when it comes to young people as they are influenced by this type of advertising. The aim of the restrictions is to protect children from exposure to alcohol advertising and to break the positive associations between alcohol and lifestyle, for example, advertisements linking alcohol with social or sporting success. We have to get serious about this if we want to deal with the issue. Of course it is about the legislation that is in place pertaining to young people. It is about enforcement of the underage provisions. However, our critical task as a society is to deal with these other issues, many of which are addressed in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill.

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