These statistics are even more staggering when we compare them with those of our EU counterparts. Nine other EU member states have shown a decrease in alcohol consumption during the same period, while three states showed a modest increase of just 5%. If we look back in ten years' time to see this curve has not peaked, then the consequences for our society and health system are frightening. A conservative figure of €2.4 billion was estimated as having been spent in 1999 in health care as a result of road accidents, alcohol-related crime and lost productivity. That is a serious figure and a wake-up call to our society. We must face this issue seriously and tackle it.