Written answers

Tuesday, 27 November 2012

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Alcohol Advertising

Photo of Billy KelleherBilly Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether sponsorship of sporting events by alcoholic drinks companies should be subject to the same regulations as tobacco sponsorship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52651/12]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I fully support the central aim of the National Substance Misuse Strategy in reducing the level of alcohol consumption and binge drinking in Ireland. However, I also recognise that moderate and responsible alcohol consumption is not harmful and that there is no case for denormalising alcohol consumption in the way that was appropriate for tobacco. Any measures introduced should be evidence based, effective and proportionate, and should have regard to the potential downsides that may occur.

As I have stated before, I believe that a legislative ban on sponsorship would have negative consequences for sport and tourism.  There are huge economic, social and health benefits accruing from sport.  From a health perspective alone, there are clearly significant benefits for individuals and for our health system in maintaining and increasing participation levels in sport. One of the goals of my Department is to contribute to a healthier and more active society by promoting sports participation.  However, it is important that funding is available to sports organisations to ensure that sport is maintained at grassroots level so that as many people as possible can participate.

Also, it is my view that sport plays an important role in diverting young people away from alcohol. The financial support provided through sponsorship is integral to the availability of sport at grassroots level and I am concerned that placing constraints on the sporting organisations by eliminating the alcohol industry as a source of sponsorship will have a negative impact on the development and availability of sport, particularly in the current economic climate. 

Furthermore, it must be recognised that many of the major sporting events in which Irish teams compete are international events and are directly or indirectly broadcast into the State by foreign broadcasters. Were Ireland to ban alcohol sponsorship, the only effect would be to exclude the Irish sporting organisation from sponsorship money while the advertising occurred anyway. I also note that Britain, having recognised the failure of the 'Loi Evin' in France to reduce alcohol consumption by young people, decided not to ban alcohol sponsorship of sport for evidence based reasons.

I would draw the Deputy's attention to a recent ESPAD Report  on Substance Use Among Students in European Countries.  This report monitors substance use among 15–16-year-old European students in order to monitor trends within, as well as between, countries. Given the 'Loi Evin' it is worth noting the comparisions between Ireland and France. Since 1999, the proportion of these young people reporting having had five or more drinks on one occasion during the past 30 days in Ireland this has decreased by 17% to 40%. In comparision this has increased by 11% in France to 44%.  

My Department has engaged with and continues to engage with the Department of Health with regard to proposals which that Department is bringing forward.

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