Government Want to Cut Back Off-License Hours

Brian Lenihan has been a man willing to walk in and out of the spotlight, look at his low profile adopted viz the Rostas family. Today though, the Justice Minister is talking about tackling our drinking culture, a theme similarly associated with his predecessor’s ‘cafe-bar’ proposal. The Minister suggested today that the government would be willing to consider earlier closing for off-licenses and also tackling the issue of ‘visibility’ of alcohol. Labour this evening agreed with the Minster and went further to argue that planning needed to be considered and the “good of community” put alongside competition in considering applications for planning for off-licenses.

Now it strikes me that if a person wants to purchase booze, they will be quite happy to adjust their purchasing time to take account of an offie closing time. Similarly in pubs, the early close can often bring drinkers in early to get their fill. The issue of controlling point of sale makes some, limited, sense but there are a number of other issues which affect the consumption of alcohol. These can be anything from sufficient education around the drug, its effects and safe limits to awareness of the influence of alcoholism on family and children.

I admit this is a patently liberal, causes-of-crime approach, but considering that the limitation of supply ends up in prohibition I fail to see how and attempt to solely tackle off-licenses will materially affect alcohol consumption. Interestingly on the demand front, the impact of below-cost selling (in a mixed-market environment such as Tesco) further points up the failure of addressing supply side issues only. There is a serious issue surrounding drinking to the extent of public health, public order as well as the damage done by those tanked up on booze.

Yet the issue is unlikely to be resolved as long as the focus is on legislation and supply-management. Legislation requires an appropriate mechanism to match and manage the demand side of this equation and as well as that is requires of us, as a nation, to discuss the acceptable limits to alcohol (considering most laugh at the thought of 3 pints being a binge session) taking account of the scientific, medical, cultural, legal and national perspectives.

Unsurprisingly this is an area where the Green Party have been vocal in their opinions. Alongside their support for making it harder to sell alcohol (less hours, more tax, less exemptions) they call for the full-blown banning of alcohol advertising.

The government’s own task force on Alcohol recommended;

S1. Regulate availability
S2. Control promotion of alcohol
S3. Enhance society’s capacity to respond to alcohol related harm
S4. Protect public, private and working environments
S5. Responsibility of the alcohol beverage industry
S6. Provide information and education
S7. Put in place effective treatment services
S8. Support non-governmental organisations
S9. Research and monitor progress

Which is a fair balance of responses, rounded, well thought out and likely to cost money to implement.

Of course this is to accept that the state has a valid case in managing alcohol consumption and this is more than ‘nanny-statism’