asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the plans, if any, he has to curb alcohol abuse by children and young people under 18.
Written Answers - Alcohol Abuse.
35.
There are two facets to the question raised by the Deputy. Firstly, there is the promotion of healthy attitudes to alcohol among young people and, secondly, the enforcement of the law relating to underage drinking which is not, of course, a function of the Minister for Health.
I believe that health promotion should form the basis of a preventive approach to alcohol-related problems. The health promotion unit in the Department of Health will be involved this year in the dissemination of information and educational material on substance abuse, including alcohol abuse, in conjunction with the health boards and the Irish National Council on Alcoholism. In addition the Irish National Council on Alcoholism will shortly be launching a national project aimed at creating a greater public awareness of the use and abuse of alcohol by young people.
The report of the Study Group on the Psychiatric Services, Planning for the Future, recognised that the preventive approach to the overall problem of alcohol abuse would require a commitment to a national policy on alcohol consumption with an integrated multisectoral involvement. This is an issue which I expect will be examined by the recently established Advisory Council on Health Promotion.