The Government should consider a “cap” on the number of outlets offering alcohol in a given area, according to the Alcohol Action Ireland CEO.
This suggestion follows new findings from the Health Research Board (HRB) that one person dies each day in Ireland due to alcohol-related liver disease.
The report also found more than one third of road fatalities had been drinking prior to the incident.
Alcohol Action Ireland CEO Sheila Gilheany said we should also note the findings on the availability of drink in order to reduce harm.
“Ireland has one of the highest densities of pubs per capita in Europe,” she told Newstalk Breakfast.
“We are the third highest across Europe, and that’s despite the fact that there has been quite a number of pub closures.
“There’s also a very high level of off-licences out there as well – 73% of the population lives within 300 metres of a licenced premise.”
Cap on alcohol outlets
Ms Gilheany also pointed out the highest level of alcohol availability is found in areas with the highest “depravation levels”.
She suggested the easiest way to reduce harm is to reduce places where drink is available.
“It’s something that I think would be good for the Government in its Sale of Alcohol Bill to actually try to put a cap on the density of alcohol outlets.
“There’s a very close relationship between density and alcohol harm.
“The evidence there [shows] when you look at this worldwide that actually yes, when you decrease the density of alcohol, you decrease the harms.”
The Alcohol Ireland CEO said this harm reduction would also work if you reduced the opening hours of licenced premises.
'Whole-of-population measures'
Ms Gilheany agreed that education and increasing the amount of health warnings on alcoholic products can also help – but emphasised the need to take larger steps.
“[A warning] does not compensate for the need for the whole-of-population measures,” she said.
The HRB also found the number of people who do not drink at all has increased from 25% in 2018 to 30% in 2022.
