Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me the opportunity to raise this issue of the cost of alcohol. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Shortall, and I am glad she has come before the House because she has a particular interest in the area. The issue at hand is the price at which alcohol is being sold in many outlets across the country. It arose as an issue following the abolition of the groceries order six years ago. There was a suggestion at the time that alcohol would not be included in the measure and there would be a floor below which the price could not fall. That did not happen.

In the past ten years we have seen a sharp rise in the number of premises licensed to sell alcohol, and they now include petrol stations, supermarkets and convenience stores. At the same time, and probably as a result of the economic climate, traditional pubs across the country have seen their numbers fall. The issue was brought to the fore last week by the father of David Higgins, a young man who died tragically by suicide. I heard the man on the radio last week and he attributed his son's death to the availability of cheap alcohol and all-night parties. My home has students and my home town also has a university and Cork Institute of Technology. Drinking at house parties before young people go to clubs has become very popular and such activity happens on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night.

There is much alcohol available very cheaply and taking in all the supermarkets, the price of alcohol is amazing. It is not unusual to get a can of beer for a euro or even less depending on the time of year or the type of loss leader that the supermarkets wish to promote. There have been calls to amend the practice for some time, although I do not know what action is possible, there are issues of competition, for example. There must be some way to introduce a control on the price of alcohol.

Many groups are calling for this control, particularly the Vintners Federation of Ireland, although people might think that group would seek control of the price of alcohol because it is in competition with supermarkets and off-licences. I have always maintained that vintners and licensed premises have a certain responsibility. They do not want to lose their licences and can also see if somebody is taking too much alcohol and needs to be controlled. We are all aware of those kinds of scenario.

When somebody buys a lot of alcohol from a supermarket or off-licence and drinks it at home, there is nobody to tell that person that enough drink has been taken. Drinking in a licensed premises means the environment is controlled. We must respect that. I have examined supermarkets and garage outlets and young people could be selling the product. That is not to say they are irresponsible but they certainly do not have the same interest in the welfare of those to whom they sell the alcohol.

In the media today there is a report from the Health Research Board about the significant increase in health problems relating to alcohol. We all know the social consequences. Last week Alcohol Action Ireland called on the Government to tackle alcohol pricing Under the umbrella group, the ISPCC is supporting calls for minimum pricing to protect young people. The Irish Cancer Society is seeking minimum pricing for health reasons and Barnardos is doing so in highlighting parental abuse of young people arising from alcohol consumption. Research from the Rape Crisis network indicated that 80% of people investigated in rape files sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions had been drinking. There are numerous examples of organisations supporting this position so I ask the Government to consider the issue and investigate what can be done to ensure this phenomenon is tackled. We have seen its effects and it must be dealt with.

The price of alcohol can be very high in some pubs, which might have an effect on the issue. Alcohol is a drug that should be controlled and we are in a very dangerous position, particularly as we consider the effect on young people in society.