Clondalkin Drugs Task Force
A1 Weatherwell Business Park
Clondalkin
Dublin 22
Tel: (01) 457 9445
Fax: (01) 457 9422
E-mail: coordinator@cdatf.ie
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Message from Senator Frances Black
This April and May, we are calling on services, groups & individuals to support the HANDS OFF OUR HEALTH Facebook campaign to show public support for the Public Health Alcohol Bill. The legislation has been the subject of ongoing and, more recently, very intense lobbying from the alcohol industry and from retailers of alcohol at the local level. There is a huge need for local people to demonstrate to elected representatives that there is public support for the Bill. We are calling on you to take a lead in your organization and encourage your members to participate in and support this Facebook campaign.
The bill aims to reduce alcohol consumption in Ireland to 9.1 litres per person per annum by 2020 and to reduce the harms associated with alcohol. The Bill consists of 29 sections and includes five main provisions. These are: minimum unit pricing; health labelling of alcohol products; the regulation of advertising and sponsorship of alcohol products; structural separation of alcohol products in mixed trading outlets; and the regulation of the sale and supply of alcohol in certain circumstances.
The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill contains a package of measures designed to begin to tackle our harmful relationship with alcohol, including measures that address the key areas of alcohol pricing, marketing and availability.
The Bill aims to reduce alcohol consumption in Ireland to 9.1 litres per person per annum by 2020 and to reduce the harms associated with alcohol. The Bill consists of 29 sections and includes five main provisions. These are: minimum unit pricing; health labelling of alcohol products; the regulation of advertising and sponsorship of alcohol products; structural separation of alcohol products in mixed trading outlets; and the regulation of the sale and supply of alcohol in certain circumstances.
SOME HEADLINE CONCERNS IN RELATION TO ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND HARM IN IRELAND
The Public Health Alcohol Bill has been the subject of intense lobbying from retailers and alcohol industry players over the past year with various lobby groups and PR firms presenting their case to members of the Oireachtas in a bid to have strong public health measures outlined in the Bill watered down and / or removed.
Leading public health expert, Thomas Babor, in a 2012 review of the alcohol industry’s efforts to influence public policy initiatives concluded that the industry has, in recent years, intensified its scientific and policy-related activities under the general framework of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, most of which can be described as instrumental to the industry’s economic interests. In recent years, there is evidence of efforts toinfluence policy more directly and industry actors have been implicated in drafting the text of policy documents in four countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Although the alcohol industry claims to discourage binge drinking, the reality is that alcohol companies would lose significant profits should underage and binge drinking in Ireland be reduced. No publicly-traded company can intentionally lose profits. The alcohol industry therefore, has a clear conflict of interest with safe and responsible drinking.
Statement from Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organisation
‘Based on their lack of support for effective alcohol policies, misinterpretation of the Global Strategy’s provisions and their lobbying against effective policy measures, we believe that the alcohol industry’s inappropriate commitments must be met with a united response from global health community’
World Health Organisation’s 2001 Stockholm Declaration on Young People and Alcohol ‘Public health policies concerning alcohol need to be formulated by public health interests, without interference from commercial interests.’
There is a window of opportunity for groups and organisations concerned about the health and well- being of the nation to have our voices heard. We are seeking support, endorsement and promotion of a short social media campaign to highlight public support for the Bill over the coming weeks when the Bill is expected to return to the Seanad.
FACEBOOK PAGE
Name of Page: Hands Off Our Health
Key message / campaign statement: Take a photograph with the sign reading ‘Hands Off Our Health’ and make a statement beginning with the words ‘I’m supporting the Public Health Alcohol Bill because’
Clondalkin Drugs Task Force
A1 Weatherwell Business Park
Clondalkin
Dublin 22
Tel: (01) 457 9445
Fax: (01) 457 9422
E-mail: coordinator@cdatf.ie