Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

The legislation has been discussed at length in both Houses. Many contributors have referred to a similar theme, namely, the culture associated with the alcohol industry. As a nation, we recognise we are fond of the drink. This stems from the fact that, over generations, the pub was the only place people used to go after baptisms, Holy Communions, Confirmation ceremonies and matches. This has contributed to the view that alcohol consumption is the acceptable social response to any occasion for celebration. This is a sad reflection on our society and it is time we moved on.

As legislators, we are given responsibility to legislate for a modern, responsible society. Alcohol contributes significantly to depression and mental illness. Members have referred to this in various debates and Senator Mary White even mentions it in her document on suicide. Friends of mine died of suicide and were heavily intoxicated at the time. This is sad to say but there is no doubt but that the alcohol played a major part, and this is even acknowledged by the families.

More can be done in the field of education to promote moderation and responsibility in the consumption of alcohol. I am not sure the legislation before the House will address this. Will it create a pressure cooker phenomenon whereby people will start to buy extra rounds as closing time approaches? If so, a binge drinking culture will be created. We should try to curb that. In other countries, both in the European Union and further afield, people seem to have a more moderate approach to drinking. They can enter and leave licensed premises without time restrictions and do not seem to engage in the sort of disorderly behaviour we seem to have on our streets late at night when nightclubs are closing.

I was taken aback by the amount of contact I had from young people on this issue. They are not looking for more drink. If they want more, they can get it in the off-licences. Many are doing this already and the publicans will confirm they have lost much trade to the off-licences. Senator Ó Murchú and others referred to consumers buying six-packs on special offers and going to one another's houses, wherein they can have as much drink as they want. The young people who are contacting legislators are making the different and very valid point that if a closing time restriction is put in place, as proposed in the Bill, we will again create a pressure-cooker phenomenon on the streets. All the people will be pushed out at the one time. Fast food outlets overflow as a consequence of such policies and taxi drivers and the public transport system cannot deal with the demands put on them, which in turn create very unstable circumstances late at night. Parents then worry about how their kids will get home and this is the reality.

Some Senators state they are not familiar with the nightclub scene. It would be no harm if some of them checked out what the major cities and towns are like at 2.30 a.m. There is chaos and I am sure the Minister of State is aware of it. Fine Gael is proposing sequential closing hours, which would relieve the pressure on staff in food outlets and the transport sector and afford parents comfort in bringing home their children safely. Sequential closing hours would prevent crowds from converging in pressurised circumstances.

It is sad we are not listening to the young people. We often hear how they are disengaging from politics but they have engaged with politicians on this issue. We saw their demonstration in front of Leinster House last week and it provided some welcome colour and music. At least the young know we are here and are working but they want responses once they engage with us. They are not getting them on this occasion and this is a sad reflection on us as legislators. We should listen to the people, who are making very valid points. We are not seeking that doors be left open day and night just to provide drink but ways of providing adequate responses to the challenges that exist, especially in respect of public disorder.

Senators referred to the sale of alcopops. We do not realise their impact on the drinking culture of young people. I am one of the people who like to give the young responsibility and treat them with the respect they deserve as young adults but I realise alcopops are making it very easy for them to become hooked on drinking. I did not drink until I was nearly 23 but can always remember my first taste of a drink. It was very bitter and I did not like it. Now youths are tasting alcopops at the very young ages of 14, 15 and 16 and find they taste like summer drinks. They are drinking them and getting hooked on them because they are easy to consume and easy to obtain. These sweet drinks are creating a new culture of binge drinking and this is a serious issue we as legislators should consider.

We could really make inroads in this area if we concentrated on it. I hope we will have further opportunities to debate this in the months and years ahead, but I hope they will arise sooner rather than later. Members have a responsibility to create a moderate and responsible society that can drink alcohol in a mature fashion without causing chaos. Everyone has a role to play in this regard. I ask the Minister of State to take on board the concerns I have raised. While one could talk at greater length about other issues, I have identified areas that require attention with regard to alcohol and were they to be addressed, inroads would be made in the fight against binge and under age drinking and similar activities.