Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Thank you. The section of the Bill and the amendments we are discussing do not refer to any of the broader issues that have been raised. Section 14 is trying to design an environment that is alcohol free in areas that are frequented by children. It is about making sure we protect children from alcohol advertising. What the Bill is endeavouring to do, on this basis, is ensure the advertising of alcohol products is prohibited within 200 m of the perimeter of school grounds, a crèche or a local authority playground. I want us all to be clear that is what we are debating. It is Report Stage of the legislation and we are debating whether it is appropriate to have a restriction of 200 m near a school, a crèche or a playground. That is what section 14 and the amendments pertain to, and this is in addition to a prohibition on advertising in or on public service vehicles and at public service transport stops or stations. To me, that sounds like a terribly sensible thing to do. Schools, crèches, playgrounds and public transport hubs should not be locations where we advertise alcohol to young children. That is what we are at here.

The Opposition amendments Nos. 19 and 20 propose a number of exemptions to that, a number of attempts to weaken a provision that protects our children in schools, crèches and playgrounds. These amendments propose to exempt advertisements attached to travel retail and to parks or open spaces where there is a licence to sell alcohol in operation. In addition, they propose to exempt directional signage and advertisements which relate to the promotion of a visitor centre. Section 14, as I said, prohibits alcohol advertising from certain locations, including parks, public transport stops and within 200 m of schools, crèches and playgrounds. These are locations where our children and young people congregate and the objective is to ensure they are not exposed to alcohol advertising and marketing every day. It is not about having a glass of wine or a few drinks at the wedding, as referenced by Deputy Michael Healy-Rae. This is about protecting children and, in particular, areas where children gather. On other issues, perhaps Members could try to amend other parts of the Bill, but that is what this is about.

The first exemption sought is for advertisements attached to airside travel retail. Section 14 prohibits alcohol advertisements from the locations listed in the sections such as parks, train stations and bus stops. Airports or airside travel retail are not listed here, so this exemption is not necessary. Section 14 also prohibits alcohol advertising from within 200 m of the perimeter of a school, crèche or local authority playground. I am not aware of any airport shopping complexes that would be so close to a school, crèche or local authority playground and, therefore, I do not believe the issue as outlined in the amendment arises. On that basis, it is not clear to me at all what is the intended effect of this amendment.

These amendments also propose to exempt a park or an open space owned or maintained by a local authority during the time that an occasional licence to sell alcohol is in operation. Events for which an occasional licence would be granted for a park or open space include open air concerts or music festivals which particularly appeal to younger people. It is difficult to see the need for any additional alcohol advertising at such events, especially during a time when alcohol is already on sale. I have never heard of anyone going to a concert or a music event outdoors having difficulty accessing alcohol. The question is why there would be a need to have additional alcohol advertising to point out to people why they should drink alcohol. This Bill prohibits alcohol advertising in parks and open spaces because it is here that our children go to play and young people go to play sports. It is the intention of this Bill that children and young people can do this without being exposed to alcohol marketing.

I also want to discuss the issue of directional signs. I will not dwell on it as we discussed it already, but it is related to this amendment. I have received legal advice from the Attorney General which makes clear that directional signs are not advertising under this Bill and, therefore, not restricted under section 14. If Members are attempting to say a directional sign is a billboard or an advertisement, that is a different matter, but a directional sign is not prohibited. Therefore, claims that tourists will be unable to find their way to these visitor centres because the signs will be banned or will not be allowed to contain the names of visitor centres is simply untrue. In fact, many of the pictures I have seen put forward by industry representatives, and supported by some in this House, are allowed under this Bill.

I accept Deputy Michael Healy-Rae's bona fides in representing his constituents and I appreciate his declaration of interest. I am representing a public health argument in this House, an argument I do not think is heard enough. We have heard an awful lot from the drinks industry during this debate. We need people at this stage to stand up for public health. Our children and young people are being exposed to an horrific amount of alcohol advertising in areas where they congregate. All we are trying to do in this section is to protect them from that so they can go about their childhood, go about playing their sports or playing in the park and go to their crèche or school without being subjected to advertising.

On the idea from the industry that advertising does not work, why does the industry spend so much on advertising? This is a multibillion euro drinks industry that targets our children and young people to ensure they are exposed to alcohol advertising from a young age. Under this Bill, we say that can happen no more, and I am very proud we are going to do this.

The House will be pleased to know we are taking these actions based on evidence. Research from the April 2017 issue of the medical journal, The Lancet, from where I would take medical advice and opinion, found that the strongest evidence for the impact of advertising on alcohol consumption comes from reviews of longitudinal and cohort studies observing children. These studies report consistently that exposure to alcohol advertising is associated with an increased likelihood that children will start to drink or, if they already drink, will drink greater quantities. The physical effects of drinking for an adolescent are significant compared with an adult. The 2016 evidence review, Alcohol in Ireland, from the Health Research Board, makes this clear when it states as follows:

Because of the relative immaturity of the adolescent brain compared to that of an adult, excessive drinking is especially hazardous for young people. An adolescent need drink only half as much as an adult in order to experience the same negative effects, and even occasional binge drinking can damage the young brain.

This measure will also contribute to protecting our young people from the mental health effects of alcohol consumption. The 2017 Young Lives in Ireland report from the National Suicide Research Foundation found, from a survey of more than 1,000 students aged 13 to 16, that significantly more of those who drank regularly had poor well-being, significant levels of depression and anxiety and had reported suicidal ideation when compared with those who were not regular drinkers. Adolescents who were drinkers were also eight times more likely to have attempted suicide compared with their peers.

Section 14 prohibits alcohol advertising from places where our children and young people go every day. It is a sensible section of the Bill. Any attempt to reduce these protections for our children is misplaced.

The intention of the Bill is to ensure that young people can travel, be educated and play without being exposed to aggressive forms of alcohol advertising. For these reasons, I certainly do not propose to accept these amendments.

See this speech in context