Law change will exacerbate binge drinking, claims Professor

Twenty-four hour licensing will only exacerbate the culture of binge drinking, a leading addiction expert warned today.

Professor Martin Plant was speaking at the first in a series of Science and Society lectures, organised by the University of Ulster, which aim to make science more accessible to everyday life.

Professor Plant warned that research in countries including Iceland, Australia and the Republic of Ireland has revealed extended bar opening hours lead to a marked increase in alcohol-related deaths such as from liver disease as well as other problems like on-street fighting and violent crime.

“The UK and Ireland are among a number of countries with a centuries-old culture of drinking heavily in a short space of time,” said Professor Plant.

"At present there is an increase in the amount of girls and young women who binge drink. The figures show that 29% of 15-16 year-old girls admit to routinely drinking five or more drinks in a single session, compared to 26% of boys."

Professor Plant said the Government was keen to set targets in other areas of health but shied away from setting ones to cut unhealthy drinking.

However, last week Social Development Minister David Hanson said that suggestions that 24 hour drinking plans will be included in plans by the Government to extend licensing hours for bars in Northern Ireland were "wide of the mark".

The Minister said he was responding to media reports that a proposal to allow 24 hour drinking will be included in the package of proposals he is soon to publish. The Government review will see a wide range of issues put out for public consultation, including enforcement and health promotion.

(MB)