Ireland needs a Road Safety Authority style body to stop people dying from alcohol abuse, a former HSE Director General has said.

Last year, 184 people died on Ireland’s roads last year – around one person every two days.

So far, this year, 38 people have passed away.

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, former HSE chief Tony O’Brien said the numbers dying from alcohol abuse are significantly higher.

“We really need to talk more about alcohol and decide how we’re going to combat that huge death rate,” he said.

“The World Health Organisation estimates that four people a day lose their lives in Ireland as a result of alcohol.

“That equates, in the first two months of this year to about 240 - which is a multiple of those who die on our roads.”

Mr O’Brien said there is an urgent need for a Road Safety Authority (RSA) style body to raise awareness about the harm alcohol can cause.

“Given the scale of harm that’s being done, it’s definitely merited,” he said.

'There ought to be an obligation'

Overall, Mr O’Brien said the Government’s strategy for dealing with alcohol dependence lacked the “coherence” and funding it needs to be effective.

“Unlike in the road situation, for example, where the motor industry is on board with road safety, we have a very large, substantial alcohol and beverage sector in Ireland who are part of a very successful and sophisticated global marketing campaign,” he said.

“It seems to me that if we want to address all causes of premature death from noncommunicable disease…. we ought to have a coherent strategy, we ought to be looking at how we can put resources into this.”

A couple with pints of beer. (Photo by Dinendra Haria / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)

Mr O’Brien said voluntary organisations do a very good job at helping people but the State needs to do more if it wants to reduce the harm alcohol has on wider society.

“There ought to be an obligation, I think, to have a coherent approach to making sure people are aware that there are supports and alternatives,” he said.

“Rather than leaving it to a good number of very committed, highly active voluntary groups - given the size of the issue.

“I think there should be a coherent State policy.”

In a statement to Newstalk, the Department of Health said officials have been allocated €163 million this year to help people with drug and alcohol addiction.

Main image: A man carrying pints. Photograph: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie