IrishMedicalNews

Support for global ban on duty-free alcohol

Written by Lloyd Mudiwa Monday, 08 February 2010 12:30

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Dr Mick Loftus, a founder of Dóthain, an organisation that raises awareness of alcohol misuse in Ireland, has supported the recent call by drugs specialist Dr Patrick Troy for a World Health Organisation (WHO) global ban on duty-fee alcohol sales.

Accusing Fine Gael Munster MEP Sean Kelly of putting narrow commercial interests before the welfare of the wider community, Dr Loftus, a Mayo-based GP, said it is regrettable that an Irish MEP should set out to stifle a meaningful response to the global crisis by urging the EU to oppose the plans for a ban.

Speaking ahead of the WHO meeting at the end of January to discuss a new global alcohol policy, the MEP had said such a ban could ruin Europe’s €2 billion duty-free alcohol industry.

However, Dr Loftus maintained Dr Troy was “perfectly correct” in pointing out that the ban would be especially welcome given that binge drinking is now such a serious problem in Ireland.

“Dr Troy is right in his belief that a WHO ban on duty-free alcohol would have very little effect on the Irish alcohol industry and any suggestion to the contrary is merely scare-mongering on the part of the drinks industry in this country,” Dr Loftus insisted.

He said the scourge of alcohol abuse is now so great in Ireland, in many EU member states, and in other countries across the globe that it demands a concerted response from the international community of nations.

Dr Loftus added: “Anyone who works to prevent or undermine efforts to tackle the global alcohol crisis on the grounds that such measures would be harmful to powerful commercial interests should think again.”