Forum calls for levy on 'goliath' drinks industry to undo harm of alcohol
There are calls for a levy on the drinks industry to combat the effects of harmful drinking.
The Alcohol Forum has said €3.7bn is spent every year on treating alcohol-related illnesses, and the drinks industry should have to pay towards that cost.
Speaking at an alcohol conference in Dublin earlier, CEO of the Alcohol Forum Pat Harvey, described the drinks industry as "goliath".
He said it is time to change the culture of alcohol in Ireland.
Mr Harvey said: "We think that there is, somehow or other, a scandal in having the drinks industry sponsor sports events.
"They are a huge influence on the culture of this country, we think we should try and pull some of that back.
"We think we should levy the industry and use that money as we see fit to try and undo some of that harm that has been done with harmful drinking on this country."
