Psychiatrists call for Northern Ireland Executive to
follow Scottish lead on minimum price for alcohol
The Royal College of Psychiatrists in Northern
Ireland has called on the Executive to follow Scotland’s lead and
introduce
an Alcohol Minimum Pricing Bill. “We have been
advocating minimum pricing for alcohol for some time, and now
the
Scottish Parliament has set a lead we believe
the Northern Ireland Assembly must follow. We are greatly
encouraged by
the commitment to date on this issue from the
Northern Ireland Executive, but are keen to see this matter also
become a
legislative reality as soon as possible in
Northern Ireland,” Dr Philip McGarry, Chair of the Royal College of
Psychiatrists
in Northern Ireland said. “The Royal College
of Psychiatrists does not oppose responsible drinking, but like
others in the medical
profession, we see the dreadful consequences
of harmful and hazardous alcohol consumption,” he said.
“International evidence demonstrates that
minimum pricing for alcohol works, and the World Health
Organisation says that
increasing the price of alcohol is one of the
most effective ways of curbing harmful drinking. Supermarkets sell
beer for less than the
price of bottled water, and we see pubs and
clubs promoting drinks, often to young people and in particular
young women, at
heavily discounted prices.
“We need to make alcohol less appealing,
particularly to young people. The evidence is that banning
advertising, limiting the
number of retailers and introducing minimum
pricing works,” Dr McGarry said.
The relationship between alcohol misuse and
mental health problems, including self harm, is complex, with
alcohol both
contributing to mental health problems and
being used by some people with mental illness to ‘self
medicate’.
For more information or to organize an interview
with Dr McGarry, please
call
The Royal College of Psychiatrists in Northern
Ireland on 028 9027 8793.