MEAS Conference National College of Ireland Thursday 14 th October, 2004

1. Alcohol – Public Health and Young People Mr. Chris Fitzgerald Principal OfficerDepartment of Health and Children MEAS Conference National College of Ireland Thursday 14th October, 2004

2. Overview • Why are we concerned? • Government response • Where do we go from here?

3. Scale of the problem Adult • Between 1990 and 2002, increase of 41% - highest rate of increase in Europe • Accompanying increase in alcohol related harm Young People • It is estimated that 1 in 4 deaths of young men in Europe aged between 15 and 29 is caused by alcohol. WHO 2003

4. Scale of the problem contd. • For young people aged 15-29 alcohol contributes to over one third of poisonings, drownings, homicide and falls. • For young men alcohol contributes to nearly half of all deaths from all motor vehicle accidents, and one fifth of suicides. Source: WHO 2003

5. Cost of the problem • Estimated cost in 2003 in Ireland was €2.65 billion • This represented 2.6% of GNP

6. Alcohol Related Harm – What do we mean? • Much of the harm happens in the adult population and extends beyond physical health issues to mental, social, financial and relationship difficulties. • In an Irish study of school-going teenagers 35% of the sexually active respondents reported that alcohol was an influencing factor in engaging in sex. * *McHale, E & Newell, J. (1997). International Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Aids

7. Examples • Personal Harm • accidents, injury, unprotected sex, aggressive behaviour, depression, etc • Social Harm • fights, assaults, violence, drink driving, relationship & marital difficulties, work performance • Mortality • cirrhosis, cancers, suicide, homicide, alcohol dependency, alcohol poisoning

8. Measures being taken by Government to address the issues • Commission on Liquor Licensing • Strategic Task Force on Alcohol • Inter-Departmental Group on Alcohol • Legislation to regulate alcohol advertising • Alcohol Advertising Code • Alcohol Awareness Campaign • RSA Programme • Other Initiatives

9. Strategic Task Force on Alcohol Remit: to recommend evidenced based measures to Government aimed at reducing and preventing alcohol related harm. The Strategic Task Force Interim report was published in May 2002.

10. STFA Key Recommendations - Interim Report • Protect children & reduce pressure on adolescents to drink • Regulate availability • Limit harm on roads • Limit harm in drinking environment • Provide information, education and services • Research & Monitor Data

11. Inter Departmental Group • established to co-ordinate responses to the recommendations of the STFA. • Progress has been made in a number of areas including:- • Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 • Legislation on alcohol advertising, sponsorship and promotions

12. Second Report of the STFA The second Task Force grouped its recommendations on young people under key strategy areas. These include: • Restricting children’s access to alcohol • Eg prohibiting under 18s from working in the bar of licensed premises, discouraging the sale of alcohol at events organised for children. • Controling alcohol promotion • Eg. Recommend sporting bodies to find alternatives to sports sponsorship

13. Second Report of the STFA • Involving young people in policy and service development • Eg. Expand existing structures to consult with young people • Providing alcohol free alternatives • Eg. Increase investment in the development of alcohol free venues, involve young people in their selection etc • Providing information and education • Eg. Provide a senior cycle school programme on alcohol and drugs, increase support for parents

14. Campaigns • The Health Promotion Unit, in association with the National Children’s Office, is currently planning an advertising campaign targeting young poeple.

15. Alcohol advertising and Young People • The Impact of Alcohol Advertising on Teenagers in Ireland • Alcohol advertising has a strong attraction for teenagers • Protrays lifestyles and images which are part of their social setting. • Most believed that alcohol advertising targeted them.

16. Legislation • Cabinet approval has been granted for the introduction of legislation on alcohol advertising, sponsorship and promotions. The primary aims of this measure will be to protect children and to reduce the pressure on young people and adolescents to drink.

17. Alcohol Advertising Code • Parallel discussions between the HPU and a number of organisations including the Drinks industry and all media interests have aimed to reduce the placement of alcohol advertisements and regulate their content to ensure that they do not appeal to young people.

18. Alcohol Awareness Campaign A 3 year alcohol awareness campaign has recently come to an end which aimed to raise awareness of alcohol as a public health issue and to create public debate around the issues associated with excessive alcohol consumption.

19. Key Elements of the Campaign • Keep kids safe from drink – aimed at all buyers and suppliers of alcohol.

20. Other Initiatives • Social and Personal Health Education programme, - a core module focuses on substance and alcohol abuse. • Framework for the Development of a College Alcohol Policy - include measures on controlling promotion, sponsorship and marketing on the college campus, providing education and support services as well as alternatives and limiting harm in the drinking environment. • RSA Programme - Aims to limit harm in the drinking environment

21. Where do we go from here? • Second Report of the STFA • Codification legislation • Joint Committee on Health and Children Report on Alcohol Misuse by Young People Alcohol Action Plan

22. Alcohol Action Plan • Plan to develop a new Alcohol Action Plan in 2005 • Informed by research and the reports published by various bodies • Will involve dialogue with key stakeholders