RCPI urges reversal of sponsorship approach.

The RCPI has asked the Oireachtas Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport to reconsider its stance on the ban on alcohol sponsorship of sports events. In response to coverage of a draft report on alcohol sponsorship in sport by the Oireachtas Sub-Committee, RCPI Alcohol Policy Group Chair, Prof Frank Murray, said: “There is a considerable body of evidence indicating that young people in particular are more exposed to and susceptible to marketing by the alcohol industry. An analysis of 13 longitudinal studies involving 38,000 young people led the authors to conclude that alcohol advertising and promotion increases the likelihood that adolescents will start to use alcohol, and to drink more if they are already using alcohol. This evidence cannot be ignored. “Alcohol is no ordinary commodity. Three people a day die in Ireland from alcohol-related illness. There is a proven health, social and economic impact associated with excessive alcohol consumption in this country. It is a factor in suicide, domestic abuse and accidents and costs the taxpayer an estimated €3.7 billion a year.