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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....Read More |
