Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Fitzgerald for facilitating me in my desire to speak first in the debate. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, for attending and the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to deal with the matter. While some will deliberately misinterpret my raising of this important issue to suggest I am a killjoy, I hope Members will listen carefully to what I have to say.

We are continually aware from reports of Irish people's abuse rather than use of alcohol. We are continually warned of the rise in levels of obesity. We are continually encouraged as communities to move more and more towards healthier living and to engage in exercise beyond the raising of a glass. We hope that our children in the schools do the same and that our new generations are not exposed to the obesity levels predicted for them.

I combine these thoughts and point out that as a person who, like many males and females, enjoys participating in the very popular sport or fad of dieting, there is a current lapse in the provision of vital information, a deficit which must be addressed. I refer to the move to labelling in the food world. There is increasing use of labelling with regard to salt, protein, carbohydrates, saturated and unsaturated fat, sugar levels and so forth, as well as allergy warnings for the presence of, for example, nuts, and quality assurance and country of origin labelling. Most notably, there is a labelling of calorie content per 100 grammes and by packet content — this is often left at an index figure but is sometimes converted into a weight watchers points tally.

Whether one is on a diet, the information given is of interest and relevance to many. It gives people the right to choose one tin of tuna over another. As people become more aware of the fact one tin of beans may well have twice the calorie content of another brand, they will soon make the consumer choice to suit their new knowledge base. Of course, if the lower calorie product is not tasty, the product will not ultimately succeed or at least the diet will change course.

What I have said thus far could not be considered in any way controversial or an over-the-top requirement. Much discussion is ongoing in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food about food labelling. Therefore, I ask why the same level of interest is not generated in what we drink. The issue of where a product came from, what it contains and how strong it is may be addressed on the labels of many products but how many of us are aware of the calorie content of the full or quarter bottle of red or white wine we are consuming? Is it not strange we know how many calories are in a 330 ml can of Diet Coke, a 500 ml bottle of Diet Club Orange or in 100 ml of a diluted soft drink? This is easily broken down to give us a sense of how good we are being when we indulge, although on another day we should consider how healthy are E-numbers and sugar replacements.

It is no accident this calorie information is not readily available on alcohol products. At least one company supplying the "light" version of its product has put the calorie content per 100 ml on bottles and cans — they are not light on alcohol but light on calories. Some of the other "light" alcohol drinks are light on alcohol content but omit the calorie information. In either case, the information is not complete and, while I might assume what may be termed the "light" aspect is either calorie or alcohol content, I may not necessarily be correct, particularly if the information is not provided.

My basic point is simple. I am a consumer. I want the choice of purchasing a product on an informed basis. If I am watching my weight, why can I be facilitated by the food industry but not the drinks industry? This is a market to be tapped, and it may challenge some producers to produce a lighter product. That research and development aspect would provide a new career opportunity for some. It would challenge them to produce a product that people still wanted to drink when compared to the original product. However, it may also let those who realise they have consumed a bottle of wine, six pints, six alcopops or half a bottle of vodka or gin on a night's socialising know a little more as to why their latest food-fad diet is not working and educate them into exercising more choice.

I speak as one who wants to see the alternatives develop, whether this is in the form of high or low alcohol content. Variety would definitely be a great aspiration but to have the truth of the content of recurrent products made visible to consumers would be an important start.