John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House for this important and ongoing debate. I too spoke in this debate in December 2002 but there are still a number of points I would like to make. We all agree that social drinking of alcohol is an integral part of Irish life. Alcohol can, and regularly does, lead to problems for individuals and the wider community when it is abused. In recent years, excessive alcohol consumption, especially among young people, has led to increased alcohol-related harm ranging from accidents and injuries to violence on the streets of our cities and towns. It is apparent that drunkenness has also increased to unacceptable levels.

There is general agreement that the changing drinking patterns in Irish society can be attributed to a number of factors. We have experienced economic growth and social change on an unprecedented scale. Our lifestyles have changed, largely for the better. Employment has increased and, as a consequence, disposable income levels have also increased, especially among younger people. These broadly positive developments have been accompanied by a lessening of parental control and personal responsibility among young people and a much stronger focus on consumerism in Irish society.

This is a point at which a discussion on rights and responsibilities becomes necessary and inevitable. The need for a partnership approach to tackling alcohol-related harm is evident. There was a tendency to point the finger of blame in one direction, whether at the Government, Ministers, the drinks industry, the media or at schools. However, to point the finger at one section is the wrong approach. Everyone has a responsibility.

Rather than engaging in arguments and counter arguments about who is to blame, we need to identify the different levels at which action is required. We can then identify the responsibilities and contributions of the various stakeholders. The problem of alcohol abuse must be addressed at separate levels. Legislation has a role to play. This Government has already taken action in that regard and we have debated it in this House. The drinks industry cannot be driven by profits alone. It bears an equal responsibility. However, the key to solving this problem is education of all sectors of society. Family values are hugely important, particularly given the increased level of binge drinking among young people.

It is no good pointing the finger at other agencies when we abdicate our individual responsibility as is the case in Irish society. I recall numerous incidents of drunkenness being accepted as a mitigating factor in behaviour. That day is gone. We can no longer accept drunkenness as a mitigating factor in a person's behaviour. There has been a huge increase in public order offences which are dealt in the District Courts by applying the probation Act. It is time to come down very strongly on what is acceptable and what is not. I am a non-drinker, but I often wonder how I would have been treated if I had had the misfortune to become involved in an altercation and did not have the excuse of having had a few drinks too many. The time has come to address that.

During my military career there was on occasion excessive drinking, particularly overseas. One chaplain, Fr. Paddy Bresnan, adopted the novel approach of issuing his own form of pioneer pledge which limited people to two, three or four pints. People boasted quite proudly regarding the pledge they had taken that they were a four-pint or a two-pint man. This meant people exercised personal control and personal responsibility. Young people must exercise control and understand their limitations as human beings and in terms of how much alcohol they can tolerate at any one time.

Simplistic solutions targeted at any one level of society will not work. Effective action at all levels is needed to redress abuses in society. That has already been proven when, in bringing forward legislation, all stakeholders came together in an effort to work together and draft that legislation. However, the State has a responsibility to protect its citizens from the consequences of alcohol abuse and it must lead the charge. This Government is endeavouring to do that.

We must also have regard to the commercial entitlement of the drinks industry to develop new products and to market them and meet the market requirements. However, they too must be responsible in their approach. Particular products on the market, shots and so on, are designed to encourage people to get drunk quickly. That is very worrying and I ask the industry to carefully examine that area. Alcoholic drinks with high alcohol content should be heavily priced to try to reduce that type of alcohol intake.

The Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003, which gave effect to certain of the recommendations put forward by the commission, was facilitated by the fact that the reforms had been advocated in such a broadly representative forum. We should continue with that approach. The exercise of responsibility in the use of alcohol is not a one-way street. Not only consumers but those who compete for a market share must play their part. There is a wide range of programmes in Ireland aimed at educating people about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption. They promote a responsible attitude to alcohol. The responsible serving of alcohol programme which is directed at the industry and is run under the auspices of CERT is an initiative to which I hope all retailers involved in the drinks industry will subscribe. The framework for developing a college alcohol programme, initiated by the universities, where there is a high level of alcohol abuse among young people, is also a welcome development. Universities should implement this and work to ensure that a proper responsible drinking programme is available in all universities. There is also the alcohol aware practice study run by the GPs, the advertising alcohol in Ireland programme run by the Advertising Standards Authority, and the No Name clubs that have been mentioned previously. The video shown on "Prime Time" some months ago entitled "Crash", showed the consequences of accidents. I highlighted it in this House and wrote to the producers of the video, and I am very pleased that it has been made available to all second level schools throughout the country. That type of education programme is real. It is not an advertisement. The people are real and the victims are real. That is the approach we need to take.

I appeal to the various stakeholders to face up to their individual responsibilities and embrace initiatives aimed at addressing alcohol abuse. It is only through people and entities in partnership facing up to their responsibilities that we have any hope of redressing this terrible scourge on Irish society.