Jimmy Deenihan
Question:108 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the various measures which his Department has initiated to control the abuse of alcohol and smoking among young people.
Written Answers. - Alcohol and Smoking Abuse.
A range of initiatives are in place to control the abuse of alcohol and smoking among young people. In relation to alcohol, in 1990 I launched a Drink Awareness for Youth (DAY) programme following its successful pilot test. This programme, developed by the Health Promotion Unit in conjunction with the National Youth Council, seeks to equip young people with the personal and social skills necessary to help them to make responsible decisions about alcohol use. The programme is aimed at 13-19 year olds and is available throughout the country in conjunction with a training programme for youth leaders. To date over 350 youth leaders and others have been trained in the use of the materials and a number of statutory bodies have also expressed a keen interest in incorporating the materials into their training programmes.
For the younger 10-15 year age group, a new video on alcohol "Handle with Care", developed by the Health Promotion Unit and the Catholic Communications Institute was launched in 1990 with an accompanying teachers' guide for use in a school setting.
A number of health boards have school health education programmes in place, which addressinter alia the question of alcohol use. In addition a range of alcohol related materials is available free to the public from the Health Promotion Unit.
A multi-disciplinary programme "Drug Questions — Local Answers?" is available in health boards throughout the country. The programme, run by trained facilitators, aims to equip concerned professionals and interested members of the public with the knowledge, skills and motivation to tackle drug issues at local level. Alcohol receives strong emphasis in the programme.
On a broader front, I accepted a recommendation of the Advisory Council on Health Promotion that a national policy on alcohol should be developed. I recognise that the use and abuse of alcohol by young people is an issue that requires the co-operation of many sectors of society. The national policy, which is currently being developed under the aegis of the Advisory Council, will examine the broad range of economic, social, cultural, educational and legal factors involved. Special emphasis will be placed on the issue of youth and alcohol and the role of families. Submissions from interested health professionals, organisations and members of the public have been solicited through advertisements in daily newspapers. I am confident that this national policy will provide the framework within which this important health issue can be dealt with effectively.
In relation to smoking, as the Deputy is aware, my Department pursue a combined strategy of legislation and education to address this issue.
The current public anti-smoking campaign being run by the Health Promotion Unit contains elements targeted specifically at young people i.e. radio advertisements and posters.
In Spring 1990, I launched a "Health Is Lookin' Good" Poster Competition for Schools. The competition generated enormous interest with over 14,000 entries being received from both primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. All children entering the competition were supplied with a booklet containing information on the main health themes of smoking, alcohol, healthy eating, exercise. The bulk of the entries were on smoking. The winning entries on the themes of alcohol and smoking were of a very high standard and have been reproduced in 1991 as posters for distribution by the Health Promotion Unit to schools, health boards and other outlets throughout the country. The competition is being run again this year by the unit.
Material for schools, in magazine format, has been developed by the Health Promotion Unit and the Irish Cancer Society on the issue of healthy choices. Smoking is one of the topics covered. The Health Promotion Unit and the Irish Cancer Society are currently developing in conjunction with young people, a peer-led anti-smoking programme.
On the legislative front, under the Tobacco (Health Promotion and Protection) Act, 1988, I increased the penalties for the sale of cigarettes to young people under the age of 16 and also made it an offence punishable by fine, to sell cigarettes in anything less than packets of ten, with the intention of making it more difficult for young people to buy cigarettes. The Regulations which I introduced in May 1990 under the Tobacco (Health Promotion and Protection) Act, 1988, prohibit smoking in any part of a primary or secondary school (including the school yard) except that smoking may be permitted where specific facilities other than classrooms or recreation rooms are provided for staff to smoke. Restrictions on smoking also apply in third level institutions.
Under earlier legislation, as the Deputy is aware, advertising of tobacco products or of events sponsored by tobacco companies cannot appear in comics or other publications directed primarily to persons under 18 years. The Deputy is also aware that in the budget in January this year, the price of a packet of 20 cigarettes was increased by 10p. Research suggests that price increases lower cigarette consumption among smokers in general but particularly among young people.