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Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

Cross-party TDs at least agree on one thing, the need to tackle alcohol abuse

The four main political parties were joined by Alcohol Action Ireland and Alastair Campbell to launch a new informal Oireachtas group on the issue.

ALCOHOL PRICING, AVAILABILITY and sponsorship are set to be the primary targets of a new cross-party Oireachtas group on alcohol misuse that was launched today.

The initiative will be overseen by Alcohol Action Ireland and comprises membership from Fine Gael, Labour, Fianna Fail, Sinn Féin and Independents.

The primary focus of the group will be in influencing the forthcoming Public Health Alcohol Bill which seeks to place greater regulation on the sale and marketing of alcohol.

Chairman of the group, Labour TD Jed Nash, said that alcohol-related harm costs the state €3.7 billion a year, with the health system alone spending €1 billion on alcohol-related care.

“Our agenda is about seeking out quality and balanced information about alcohol harm and using that in our roles on formal committees, in our own political parties and as individual politicians to influence better outcomes,” said Nash.

Fine Gael Senator Catherine Noone is also a member of the cross-party group and says that Ireland were “world leaders when it came to creating laws around tobacco” and wants the same to be the case with alcohol:

Physical separation of alcohol in supermarkets and grocery shops, banning alcohol sponsorship in arts and sports, further restrictions on alcohol advertising, a minimum pricing policy, and a change in legislation around packaging of alcohol are, in my opinion, all necessary measures.

British Labour Party adviser Alastair Campbell was also present to mark the launch of the parliamentary group and ahead of the meeting said that the Irish Government must not be swayed in its efforts by “vested, corporate interests”.

In the UK, public policy around alcohol misuse is being heavily influenced by the sophisticated and well-resourced alcohol lobby rather than being directed in the interest of public health. This is evident from David Cameron’s U-turn on minimum pricing last year following pressure from both his Cabinet and the alcohol lobby.

Today’s launch of the cross-party group also heard contributions from paramedic Richard Shannon and nurse Anne Burke about the pressure alcohol abuse puts on the health service.

The CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland Suzanne Costello says that they will help the group in “whatever way they can” adding that the Public Health Alcohol Bill is “an unprecedented opportunity to begin to address our harmful relationship with alcohol”.

Read: Another rise in consumer prices. The main drivers? College fees & alcohol >

Read: 860 fewer people would be killed by alcohol every year if minimum pricing was introduced >

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53 Comments
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    Mute Neal •IntoYourHead
    Favourite Neal •IntoYourHead
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    Mar 4th 2014, 3:14 PM

    Can we start with not having a pub in the Dail?

    227
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    Mute Stephen Murphy
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    Mar 4th 2014, 3:22 PM

    No, politicians are not subject to our laws!

    115
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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Mar 4th 2014, 3:35 PM

    Are pubs illegal now?

    43
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    Mute Schnucs
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    Mar 4th 2014, 10:26 PM

    My thoughts exactly…and perhaps not to drink alcohol when making important decisions that will impact the lives of Irish people.

    The hypocrisy enrages me!

    12
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    Mute John Everyman
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    Mar 4th 2014, 3:26 PM

    Minimum pricing is a stupid idea. Anyone really think an alcoholic is gonna spend less on booze if the price goes up? No they’ll just spend less on everything else.

    It would just mean that those of us who don’t abuse it have to unfairly fork out more on the occasions we fancy a few bottles after a hard week of work.

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    Mute DigitalA
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    Mar 4th 2014, 3:41 PM

    Well said sir

    49
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    Mute Mimi Muth
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    Mar 4th 2014, 5:29 PM

    You can’t spend what you don’t have and there are more functioning Alcoholics in this country than the down and out type.

    17
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    Mute Peter McKevitt
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    Mar 4th 2014, 3:21 PM

    Minimum Pricing? More like how much more Taxes can we take…

    94
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Mar 4th 2014, 3:20 PM

    Could make a start by closing the bars in the Dail or at least regulating them to normal opening and closing times.

    86
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    Mute Noel Adderley
    Favourite Noel Adderley
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    Mar 4th 2014, 3:11 PM

    Let them charge what they like,ban advertising alcohol and we’ll still be left with the root problem,our attitude with alcohol.
    Rarely is there ever talk of education!

    71
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    Mute Noel Otley
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    Mar 4th 2014, 3:37 PM

    Will our politicians lead by example?
    Eg
    Stop holding “clinics” in pubs.
    Bring the Leinster House bar’s hours in line with normal pubs.
    Ban alcohol sponsorship of sports events.
    Stop dragging foreign dignitaries to a pub where they are forced to drink Guinness.

    No? Thought so.

    69
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    Mute michael byrne
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    Apr 1st 2014, 5:39 PM

    They are more than clinics,they are free offices ,and they bring punters to the pub..

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
    Favourite Chris Mcdonnell
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    Mar 4th 2014, 4:02 PM

    Lower the price of a pint in the pub

    62
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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Mar 4th 2014, 4:03 PM

    This will cut the need for people to get tanked up before they go out and then they can enjoy ya few hours in the pub socialising rather than getting sloshed before they get there.

    47
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    Mute Ciarraioch
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    Mar 4th 2014, 4:55 PM

    Chris – you have hit the absolute nail on the head !
    How for a start can there be a difference between pub prices of €1.50 a pint between Dublin pub prices and here in Tralee ?
    You are spot on – the punters are having their drinks before the pub visit BECAUSE the pub prices are so high !

    Surely most of the problem lies with the Publicans , where the gap between retail and pub prices is now three or four times the difference – it’s simply astonishing .
    The standard markup in a bar used to be 60% now it has become up to 400%.
    Why I ask ????

    33
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    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
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    Mar 4th 2014, 3:27 PM

    Great stuff- a dry drunk and a pressure group are now going to instruct our witless TDs on hoe better to tax, regulate and generally harrass us. Jesu wept.

    56
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    Mute Mimi Muth
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    Mar 4th 2014, 5:31 PM

    Spoken like an active drunk and a vested interest.

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    Mute Úna O Connor Barrett
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    Mar 4th 2014, 3:52 PM

    Look at themselves and remove the bar from the Dail also remove the restrictions on stopping them on the way home from the Dail.

    56
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    Mute Conor Sweeney
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    Mar 4th 2014, 3:47 PM

    If they think any of these measures are going to stop Irish people getting rat-arsed drunk whenever they like they are sorely mistaken.

    53
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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Mar 4th 2014, 3:50 PM

    They need to look closer to home, remember Tom Barry’s episode on the night of the abortion debate? ?? Also it’s o.k. for the goverment to up the prices of everything they can & due to there wonderful pensions will always be able to afford things.

    49
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    Mute Patricia Ann McCarthy Moore
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    Mar 4th 2014, 3:26 PM

    I would prefer if they tackled the many injustices in their legal system, rather than prohibing people from making their own decisions about smoking and eating and drinking. I am referring to the lax sentencing of paedophiles; The recent Athlone judgement on an evil predator is a shame and a disgrace on a country that claims to protect children.

    41
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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Mar 4th 2014, 4:17 PM

    Terrible and tragic as the case in athlone is, the perp got two life sentences. What are you suggesting, executions? Let’s hope that life sentence in this case means life and he won’t be out in 15 years

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    Mute Vincent F
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    Mar 4th 2014, 4:34 PM

    Dermot, life does not = life. Unfortunately. I for one would vote in favour of chemical castration and minimum 15 years.

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    Mute Patricia Ann McCarthy Moore
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    Mar 4th 2014, 9:08 PM

    No I am not suggestiong executions. I want an open discussion of the case. The name of the person found guilty of the crime? What was he doing at that address? What was the name of the other person reported to have been in the house with him? Not the sordid details, just the facts, and how they were dealt with. All this coverup and secresy suggests that there is something seriously wrong’ and that the media are colluding in another cover up by the Predatory Paedophile community, that appear to have gripped Ireland by the ‘balls’ so to speak, and will not let go until names are named..

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    Mute Natalie May
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    Mar 4th 2014, 3:39 PM

    Couldn’t agree more Noel. As a nation we have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol and that needs to be tackled. They need to create awareness and then educate people.
    An increase in prices isn’t going to stop anyone from drinking. An alcoholic with a low income is still going to spend their money on drink even if it means there’s no food on the table for their family

    37
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    Mute Declan O'Sullivan
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    Mar 4th 2014, 4:20 PM

    How about concentrating on major issues like creating work in rural areas ie outside of Dublin! Incentives for companies to locate/relocate etc. Get people back to work and the alcohol problem will be dramatically reduced. Oh ya this relocation will also help with the housing bubble in Dublin…

    34
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    Mute Marc
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    Mar 4th 2014, 5:15 PM

    Who wants to live in the sticks.

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    Mute Declan O'Sullivan
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    Mar 4th 2014, 6:09 PM

    Those who want to afford a home! That’s my point, make it so people have the option to live again! If towns and cities outside of Dublin had the industry then those towns and cities could grow and accommodate people giving people a real reason to live in “the sticks”. That comment is very narrow minded. I get the joke but we need countrywide solution one that will benefit those in all areas!

    18
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    Mute DigitalA
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    Mar 4th 2014, 3:43 PM

    Let them charge what they like.
    Let people go to the illicit sources/black market to get sorted cheap.

    Government – Didn’t learn anything from history, no answers to anything.

    29
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    Mute Darren Turner
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    Mar 4th 2014, 3:18 PM

    Ban those disgusting 2 litre bottles of cider you see junkies and alcos swigging on in parks and the like.

    28
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    Mute Neal •IntoYourHead
    Favourite Neal •IntoYourHead
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    Mar 4th 2014, 3:25 PM

    In fairness, Devil’s Bit is not bad once you get used to it.

    43
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    Mute richardmccarthy
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    Mar 5th 2014, 12:12 AM

    Hey just lay of the two litre Cider,nothing wrong with it and preferably on the rocks to quench a thirst, and im far from a rageing alcoholic,lay the blame where it belongs,dont blame the product.

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    Mute Sharrow
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    Mar 4th 2014, 3:31 PM

    Many people are self medicating with alcohol as the waiting lists to see a counselor or therapists on a medical card or to long or if they don’t have a medical card the cost is too expensive. Hiking up the prices won’t help those who need it most.

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    Mute Fatalism.
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    Mar 4th 2014, 4:35 PM

    Availability, advertising and pricing isn’t going to sort out the problem. It won’t change people’s attitude towards alcohol and that’s the problem, not the innocent person who likes a drink or two at the end of the week.

    Banning alcohol sports sponsorship and sale in groceries will have a far greater negative effect than a positive one, if any. What if, let’s say, they ban the Heineken cup. Not only will it affect the players and managers involved in the teams and the alcohol companies themselves, but the airlines, hotels, sports venues and businesses surrounding them. Sports is such an important part of tourism here in Ireland and to rid it of so many leagues will have a huge negative impact.

    From a personal experience, my father is the owner of two small shops, a Spar and a Mace Maxol filling station. It shouldn’t be a surprise that alcohol is one of the top categories of sales in his businesses. Banning of sale in alcohol in groceries and supermarkets will further target the already vulnerable small and medium business owners who have terribly suffered in this recession. It will have such a strong impact on not only my family’s livelihood, but the livelihoods of small and medium business owners throughout the country.

    26
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    Mute darnell
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    Mar 4th 2014, 5:59 PM

    Here we go, they’ll use alcohol misuse as an excuse when they slap on even more tax on alcohol.

    23
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    Mute Eamonn Óg Ó Gallachóir
    Favourite Eamonn Óg Ó Gallachóir
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    Mar 4th 2014, 4:40 PM

    So they wont be drinking across the world on the publics expense come st patricks day ?

    20
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    Mute Mindfulirish
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    Mar 4th 2014, 4:39 PM

    Food addiction is a bigger problem yet our TV and radio keep promoting food with more cooking programmes than ever. Media have a big part in the o deity epidemic right now. Will they ban cookery programmes or food advertising. ????

    19
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    Mute Mimi Muth
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    Mar 4th 2014, 5:33 PM

    People don’t get jailed for getting burger faced.

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    Mute bob marley
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    Mar 4th 2014, 5:49 PM

    Man made beer God made weed!!!!!!!!

    17
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    Mute Dee4
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    Mar 4th 2014, 4:28 PM

    Why do politicians keeping indulging in overreach in a sad attempt to sound relevant. Irish version of comedy Ali.

    14
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    Mute johnr
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    Mar 4th 2014, 6:39 PM

    Ban this, regulate that, bolox again.

    13
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    Mute Jill Antrop
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    Mar 4th 2014, 5:13 PM

    To educate people about alcohol (ab)use it has to start from a very young age. At home for example where in many occasions alcohol is consumed in large amounts ( christenings, communions, birthdays, funerals). Also in school they could bring (ex)alcoholics sharing their stories in how alcohol has effected their lives. Hiding it and making it ‘very hard’ to get alcohol makes it misterious and ‘cool’ for young teenagers in my opinion. Why not having a drink with your children at home, when they have the legal age to do so, in order to prevent them from doing it behind your back outside somewhere on the street. It would eliminate the excitment factor

    12
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    Mute bob marley
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    Mar 4th 2014, 5:41 PM

    Herb is the healing of a nation, alcohol is the destruction.

    12
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    Mute Pedro
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    Mar 4th 2014, 6:28 PM

    God forbid we actually tried to solve the issue through education.

    Nah, lets just increase prices. Foolproof.

    11
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    Mute leartius
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    Mar 4th 2014, 4:42 PM

    Hold on a second, Groups of politicians coming together to resolve a Problem. It seems that either we are about to hold elections or that public focus on politics has changed the mindset of some career politicians. But its the lobbyists for the multinational giants that will win not public health. Taxes we pay back to the government for the pleasure of drinking would have to be raised elsewhere. But at least some politicians are trying to do the right thing. While other are more comfortable downing pints in the private bar, watching Dail proceeding on a flat screen just like the rest of us. To afraid of what the church thinks to do anything other than make up the numbers if a vote is called. If we were grownup and challenged why we are not making more use of alcohol. Could we run our heating systems on a home brew fuel made from simple ingredients. Could it be possible that where once alcohol took money away from the household budget it could heat our homes. alcohol was once used as almost a natural resource but it now comes in a can or bottle sold to us my multinationals.

    11
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    Mute Mark O'Hagan
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    Mar 4th 2014, 5:28 PM

    Does anyone else the the irony in our politicians attempting to tackle alcohol abuse but only a while ago were doing their best to get Barack Obama photographed drinking a pint of Guinness. This was then followed up by trying to get the Queen to do the same.
    Sure enough it was only a matter of time before
    our new tourism ambassador Cmdr Hadfield was photographed performing the same task.

    We also have politicians saying that sport would perish without sponsorship from alcohol companies. Interestingly enough Rabo and Aon are not alcohol companies and are quite happy to sponsor sports.
    This initiative seems like a cynical initiative to be seen to be doing something. I won’t be holding my breath.

    11
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    Mute Alan Reardon
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    Mar 4th 2014, 8:36 PM

    The first thing they should do is close the bars in Leinster House. After all we witnessed a low life TD groping a female TD in the chamber last year having apparently consumed alcohol. Start at the top and go from there .

    10
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    Mute Martin Sinnott
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    Mar 4th 2014, 3:58 PM

    Cheap supermarket sales of alcohol is a major problem. But the voters will not thank the Governments for hacking the prices !

    5
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    Mute Robbie Doyle
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    Mar 4th 2014, 4:37 PM

    It’s not a problem for the vast majority of people. Just means they don’t spend as much.

    22
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    Mute Marc
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    Mar 4th 2014, 5:17 PM

    Ireland still had a problem with alcohol 15 years ago when prices were much higher than today.

    23
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    Mute Mimi Muth
    Favourite Mimi Muth
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    Mar 4th 2014, 5:34 PM

    Any body who has any problem in any area of there life because of Alcohol is an Alcoholic.

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    Mute Noel Wilson
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    Mar 4th 2014, 11:22 PM

    The sponsorship of sports is dubious, that needs looking into thoroughly. Lot of money talking there me thinks.

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    Mute Paul Che Waldron
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    Mar 4th 2014, 3:26 PM
    2
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