Simon Coveney calls for getting balance right in alcohol debate

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Mr Simon Coveney has stated that the Government should be trying to get the balance right between the alcohol industry's case and that of those advocating tightening up the sale, marketing and distribution of alcohol to counter misuse.

“It’s a problem of getting the balance right,” he explained to those attending the launch of the Irish Whiskey Association recently.

“We shouldn’t be preaching ‘no discussion’ on alcohol but should be speaking of getting the balance right between responsible consumption and promoting Irish whiskey internationally,” he stated, “We need to get this balance right between taking alcohol abuse seriously and responding to and building an industry whose products adults around the world can enjoy in a responsible way.”

The Minister was responding to a request by the former Chairman of the Irish Spirits Association, Cooley Distillery’s Willie McCarter that the Minister get more of his colleagues to support the drinks industry rather than condemn it as some in Government have been doing.