Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill which the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, has published because it treats alcohol misuse as a public health issue for the first time. It is laudable that its goal is to reduce the damage alcohol causes to individuals and society and to reduce average annual alcohol consumption. I welcome the measures contained in it to deal with minimum unit pricing, strict separation of alcohol products in outlets, compulsory health labelling, the requirement to display health warnings, the regulation of advertising and marketing, the ban on advertising near schools, playgrounds and public transport, the prohibition of price based promotions and an enforcement regime including inspections. It is horrifying to realise that four out of ten people typically engage in binge drinking. All sides of the House find these measures laudable. I welcome them and look forward to their introduction.