Seanad debates

Wednesday, 18 June 2003

Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Second Stage.

 

I listened very carefully to the Minister's speech and I agree there is a problem. The problem is much more in the demand area than in the supply area. This Bill deals with the supply area and that approach never works. It reminds me of the great idea which originated in Europe in the mid-1980s regarding how we might deal with the drugs problem, including cocaine – that we should convince the farmers of South America to grow carrots instead of coca plants on the basis that this would stop production. There will always be ways of getting a banned substance. If politicians have one thing in common, it is that we have ways around things. We know young people will always find a way around a constraint.

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