Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I have already asked the Leader for an urgent debate on the impact of alcohol on young people. I refer to a document sent to me by Mr. James Doorley of the National Youth Council of Ireland, Get 'em Young: Mapping young people's exposure to alcohol marketing in Ireland. Young people's drinking of alcohol is a serious issue in this country. The figures produced in the research show that up to 37% of boys between the ages of 15 and 17, up to 41% of girls between the ages of 15 to 17 and up to 12% of girls between the ages of 12 to 14 admitted to being drunk in the past month. We got a promise in the programme for Government that the Government would bring in legislation to cut back on the amount of advertising of alcohol at sporting events for young people. I have a serious problem with advertising of alcohol at sporting events and at music events for young people. Young people, particularly young men, emulate their heroes who they see playing rugby, soccer, Gaelic football, hurling or whatever. I really need to get the Minister urgently to let us know if she intends to deliver the legislation on this. There is evidence that when people start to drink early as children and young people, their brains are seriously damaged. They end up getting into trouble with the law, becoming addicted and many pregnancies occur due to alcohol. I really want to get the Government to deliver on this exposure of young people to excessive marketing of alcohol at sporting and music events.