asked the Minister for Health if he is yet satisfied that the brewing interests have ceased to direct their propaganda in favour of alcoholic drink towards young persons.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drink Propaganda.
18.
The code of advertising standards for Ireland stipulates, inter alia, that advertisements for alcoholic beverages should not be specifically addressed to the young and that persons featured in advertisements should be obviously over 18 years of age. As regards television advertising I am informed that RTE insist that persons shown in advertisements of alcoholic beverages must be obviously over 21 years of age. I must say that I would prefer to see the 21 year age limit being applied to all advertising of alcoholic drinks, though of course I am aware of the fact that the purpose of this limitation could be circumvented by those who wished to do so by showing persons just over 21 years of age. The code of advertising standards for alcoholic beverages, which is a voluntary code, was only recently introduced but I have made certain suggestions to the Institute of Advertising Practitioners for its improvement.
Does the Minister know that there is at least one enormous advertisement throughout the country by Smithwicks, which is a Guinness subsidiary, I understand, called "Just Great", which includes about a dozen youngsters of which the most prominent would be, I should imagine, about 17 or 18? Would the Minister do anything about that?
We cannot have a debate on how to deal with alcoholism at Question Time but I want to make it quite clear to the Deputy and to the House that alcohol is regarded as a most useful form of drug for a very large portion of the community when taken in moderation and in any campaign to deal with alcoholism, apart from those who wish to be teetotallers, who make a great contribution by doing so, I have to go on the principle —"Wine that maketh glad the heart of man: and oil to make him a cheerful countenance".
(Interruptions.)
It would be quite improper for me to do anything that would restrain the moderate taking of alcohol. It would be quite impracticable and useless.
(Interruptions.)
Does the Minister not agree that an overdose of this propaganda on television is enough to drive a man to drink?
Deputies
Hear, hear.
Would the Minister agree that Bobby Molloy's advertisements are causing more road accidents than anything else?
I would not agree.