Gerry Adams
Ceist:633. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health his current plans to tackle issues surrounding the availability of cheap alcohol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49784/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 13 November 2012
Ceisteanna (633, 634, 635, 660, 661, 662)
Gerry Adams
Ceist:634. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce regulations prohibiting price based advertising of alcohol products. [49785/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraGerry Adams
Ceist:635. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health his plans in relation to introducing minimum pricing of alcohol. [49786/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraGerry Adams
Ceist:660. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health his strategy for tackling the issue of alcohol misuse here. [50081/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraGerry Adams
Ceist:661. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if there is a specific strategy to tackle the impact alcohol addiction has on the children of addicts. [50082/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraGerry Adams
Ceist:662. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if there is a specific strategy to tackle the links between alcohol abuse and mental health problems. [50083/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 633 to 635, inclusive, and 660 to 662, inclusive, together.
In its report on alcohol, the National Substance Misuse Strategy Steering Group recommended - among other things - the development of joint protocols between mental health services and drug and alcohol services; the provision of supports and services to children affected by alcohol; the introduction of a legislative basis for minimum pricing per gram of alcohol along with the development of regulations and an enforcement mechanism with respect to Section 16 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008. The latter refers to prohibiting or restricting a person from advertising or promoting the sale of alcohol at a reduced price and free of charge; the powers in relation to this are vested in the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence.
My Department is working on the development of a policy on minimum unit pricing of alcohol. As minimum unit pricing is a mechanism of imposing a statutory floor in price levels for alcohol products that must be legally observed by retailers, its primary function would be thus to discourage at risk levels of alcohol consumption. This recommendation - along with the others - are being actively considered as part of the development of concrete proposals on the basis of the National Substance Misuse Strategy report; and it is hoped to submit these to the Government for consideration and adoption as soon as possible.