'Alcohol-related problems cost society €2.65bn last year'
The Department of Health's task force on alcohol has recommended a range of new measures to reduce the harm caused by alcohol in Ireland.
In a report published today, the task force said alcohol-related problems cost Irish society €2.65bn last year.
The report said the Irish were among the highest consumers of alcohol in Europe and spent around €6bn on alcohol every year.
It said Ireland was found to have the highest level of binge-drinking in a study of seven European countries, while alcohol was also a factor in 30% of all road accidents and 37% of all accidental drownings.
The task force has advised the Government to tackle the problem by restricting the number of outlets where alcohol can be sold, increasing taxes on alcohol, requiring that health warnings be printed on alcohol products and making pregnant women more aware of the damage caused by alcohol.
The body has also recommended a range of measures to protect children from alcohol, including changes to advertising regulations and new rules to prevent under-18s from being hired as bar workers.
Responding to the report, Health Minister Micheál Martin said: "We need to change the cultural attitude in relation to alcohol and we all have a part to play in reducing the alcohol-related harm that costs our society so dearly."
