Ivana Bacik (Independent)

While I do not wish to prolong the debate on the amendment, in the interests of fairness I must respond to the Minister of State's comments which misinterpreted what I said. I did not say regulations on the advertising, sale and supply of alcohol do not have an impact on consumption. Clearly, such regulations have an impact and I have argued in the House that the Government should restrict the sale of premiership football jerseys in children's sizes which prominently bear logos of alcohol companies. I hope to raise this issue again with the Department.

My specific point was that restricting opening hours, for example, abolishing holy hour, does not of itself lead to the problems we associate with binge drinking and alcohol consumption. There is no evidence that the abolition of holy hour has led to people drinking more during that period. I do not believe that allowing clubs and bars to extend their opening hours beyond 2.30 a.m., or 1 a.m. on Sunday nights, would lead to people drinking greater quantities of alcohol. The evidence from countries where opening hours are more liberalised is not that people drink more or binge drink. Our culture is specifically binge drinking in nature, largely because we are used to having severe controls imposed.