Gerry O'Sullivan
Ceist:158 Mr. G. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the level of expenditure by manufacturers on advertising alcoholic drink and the percentage of the expenditure which is spent on combating underage drinking.
Written Answers. - Underage Drinking.
Gerry O'Sullivan
Ceist:166 Mr. G. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide finance to individuals or groups who wish to undertake more research and analysis into the problems of underage drinking; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Gerry O'Sullivan
Ceist:167 Mr. G. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the funding his Department are allocating nationally and to the various health boards for campaigns outlining the dangers and effects of underage drinking; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 158, 166 and 167 together.
On the question of research on youth and alcohol the Advisory Council on Health Promotion have commissioned the Economic and Social Research Institute to conduct a major research project which will,inter alia, deal with the issue of alcohol and youth, as part of its formulation of a comprehensive national policy on alcohol. The particular direction of the research concerns the prevalence and prevention of alcohol abuse among young people. While the various studies which have taken place in Ireland in recent years have used different methods, classification samples and ages, they do show that there is a need for systematic and on-going educational programmes for young people and that parents and the adult population in general have an important role to play in influencing young people in the area of alcohol and its proper use.
As Minister for Health I consider it a priority that young people should be in a position to make informed decisions about alcohol. It is also important that if they decide to drink they will have the required skills to do so in a moderate and responsible fashion conducive to their good health and well-being and that of others.
On the question of resources my Department's allocation to the health boards encompasses resources for health promotion-health education. A focus on youth and alcohol would be an integral part of individual health boards' health promotion-education programmes, but given the multi-disciplinary approach of these programmes it would not be practicable to calculate the specific resources allocated to the issue of youth and alcohol.
Parallel to these individual health board initiatives are national programmes. The Drink Awareness for Youth (DAY) programme aims to inform and educate young people about alcohol and the dangers associated with its abuse. It is a prevention programme, targeted at the 14-19 year age group, that seeks to equip young people with the personal and social skills necessary to make responsible decisions regarding their use of alcohol. This is a joint initiative between the Department's health promotion unit and the National Youth Council. The DAY programme is primarily for use in youth settings and for those who work with young people. It has been completed following its very successful piloting in various youth settings throughout the country. The programme can also be used in schools. A nation-wide training programme for youth leaders and other persons involved with youth is now underway. One hundred and fifteen such persons have been trained to date. A number of national and regional organisations are considering including the DAY programme as part of their training activities.
I also recently launched an alcohol education video entitled "Handle with Care" which was produced by the health promotion unit, in conjunction with the Catholic Communications Institute and Veritas Video Productions. The video is aimed at 10-15 year olds and includes a comprehensive teacher's guide for use in schools. This will be a very useful way of getting the message across to young people before they actually drink alcohol. Both the DAY pack and the video have been made available to all health boards.
A more broadly based community programme entitled "Drug Questions — Local Answers?" has also been developed by the health promotion unit to promote a community response to drug problems. It brings together health and educational professionals and interested voluntary workers, in their communities, and places particular emphasis on problems posed by alcohol abuse. To date approximately 450 persons have participated in the course throughout the country and the response to its content has been very positive.
Other materials on alcohol education are also available from the health promotion unit of my Department and from health boards. A series of booklets focus on the problem of underage drinking — one for young people, one for parents, and one for youth leaders. Additional materials cover specific issues such as guidelines towards the assessment of an individual's drinking habits, and women and alcohol. The costs of these initiatives in 1990 amounted to approximately £100,000.
The particular focus of my Department's strategy on underage drinking is in the educational setting, both formal and informal. However, a much broader focus is required to tackle the problem of alcohol use and abuse among young people and within the community generally. Measures necessary to address the problem are multi-factorial and are encompassed within the remit of a number of Government Departments and statutory and voluntary agencies. In pursuance of a broadly based policy on alcohol, its use and abuse, the Government decided that the Advisory Council on Health Promotion should develop such a policy which will address broader economic, social, educational, cultural and health factors which impinge on alcohol use, including the problem of under-age drinking. As part of this remit, the council recently commenced a major consultative exercise requesting submissions from national and regional organisations including youth organisations and from the general public on these issues.
In relation to the expenditure on advertising by the drinks industry and the percentage of expenditure which is spent on combating underage drinking, this information would not be available to my Department. I am fully aware of the great responsibility the drinks industry have in promoting the sensible and moderate use of alcohol. The industry are generally aware of this responsibility as evidenced by various educational initiatives which they have sponsored, but it is an area which will be examined by the Advisory Council in the context of the formulation of the national policy on alcohol. I am of the view that a combined and cohesive strategy involving the industry and statutory and non-statutory agencies would represent an innovative and important approach to combating problems of alcohol abuse by young people.