Following a protracted process, the Public Health (Alcohol) Act was signed into law in October 2018. The Act introduced new controls on alcohol marketing (which commenced in November 2019) with restrictions on some outdoor and cinema advertising as well as a ban on public transport advertising. Widespread evidence indicates that exposure to alcohol marketing is causally linked to consumption, including higher-risk drinking; however, to date, much of the research has focused on younger people. There is comparatively less understanding about the reach and impact of marketing on adults, including vulnerable groups. There is also a lack of consumer research examining the impact that legislation has on marketing awareness and the association with consumption.

The Adolescent Addiction Service (AAS) of the Health Service Executive (HSE) provides support and treatment in relation to alcohol and drug use for young people and families from the Dublin suburbs of Ballyfermot, Clondalkin, Palmerstown, Lucan, and Inchicore. Services provided include advice, assessment, counselling, family therapy, professional consultations, and medications if required. In 2021, AAS published a report detailing referrals for 2020.¹

A visiting committee is appointed to each prison in Ireland under the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Act 1925 and the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Order 1925. Members of the 12 visiting committees are appointed by the Minister for Justice for a term not exceeding three years. The function of prison visiting committees is to visit, at frequent intervals, the prison to which they are appointed and hear any complaints that may be made to them by any prisoner.

Responding to Excessive Alcohol Consumption in Third-level (REACT) is an award and accreditation scheme for third-level institutions that carry out a set of activities to reduce alcohol-related harm among its students in Ireland.^1,2,3 A new study has been published based on qualitative data collected as part of the programme’s evaluation, entitled ‘College students’ perspectives on an alcohol prevention programme and student drinking – a focus group study’.⁴