Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

------but that day he bought me a pint of Guinness and told me I was going to learn to drink like a man and need never be afraid to have a drink. I was violently ill that night and am delighted to say that I have never drank Guinness since and probably never will. I am sorry if I have damaged the Guinness brand in some way.

It is about education. Some people now think it is rather funny for their teenagers to have what are called "prinks" or pre-going out drinks, which is when they get half sloshed in the house before going out. An education programme is needed in that regard. I congratulate the Minister on the Bill. We may have some words on section 20. However, education is needed as well as the Bill. Any of us who have lain in an accident and emergency department, as I have when I was ill, will have seen guys being carried in, getting sick all over the place and causing disruption everywhere. That is a real problem in terms of alcohol. I see Senator James Reilly looking at me. He probably knows better than I what damage such people cause in accident and emergency departments all over the country. In that context, the Bill will not solve the problem by itself. There is a lot more work to be done.