Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 December 2013
214. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that as many pubs are only surviving because they sell food and close at 2.30 p.m. this will cost jobs. [52245/13]
View answerThe Government recently approved an extensive package of measures to deal with alcohol misuse to be incorporated in a Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. These measures are based on the recommendations contained in the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy, 2012. The package of measures to be implemented will include provision for: minimum unit pricing for alcohol products; the regulation of advertising and marketing of alcohol; structural separation of alcohol from other products in mixed trading outlets; health labelling of alcohol products; and regulation of sports sponsorship.
There are no measures proposed to alter the current opening hours regime.
Work on developing a framework for the necessary Department of Health legislation is continuing.
