UUP duo welcome crackdown on cheap alcohol in pubs

Two leading North Antrim Ulster Unionists, Mr Robin Swann and Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA, have welcomed the proposal by the Department of Social Development to crack down on alcohol sales in pubs in Northern Ireland.

Mr Swann is UUP North Antrim Chairman, while Rev Dr Coulteris the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner.

In their joint statement, the two UUP men commented on the plans which will look at sales of cheap alcohol in pubs and clubs.

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They said: “Working on the ground, as we do on a daily basis, we see at first hand the effects that the abuse of alcohol has for all levels of society. It impacts on policing and crime, healthcare and most importantly on the individual victims and their families.

“The proposals to crack down on the sale of cheap alcohol, giving the police more power to deal with disorder and new proof of identification for entry to pubs are excellent ways of reducing the problems associated with alcohol use and addition.

“This is something our party colleague and Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has also been working tirelessly at since taking on the role.

“It is currently estimated that alcohol misuse in Northern Ireland costs up to 900 million per year.Given the current harsh economic constraints being placed upon the Health Service, this is something that we need to address urgently.

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“We need to look at preventative measures in relation to addition, look at the surrounding social issues and aim to protect young people from alcoholism and related anti social behaviour,” said Rev Dr Coulter and Mr Swann.