Vol. 566 No. 1
436 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the comments by some national sporting organisations that without the sponsorship of the drinks industry they will not be able to remain viable; and if he will make a statement on the matter in view of the negative message created by the linking of alcohol and sport. [11654/03]
The Interim Report of the Strategic Task Force on Alcohol which I established last year contained a number of recommendations aimed at preventing and reducing alcohol related harm. A number of the recommendations are aimed at protecting young people and reducing the pressure on adolescents to drink. These include a ban on drinks industry sponsorship of children's and adolescents' leisure-time activities and actively encouraging all national sports organisations to promote alcohol-free sporting environments for children and adolescents. An interdepartmental group has now been established to co-ordinate the responses of the relevant Departments to these and other recommendations. The Irish Sports Council is represented on this group.
