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	The Government has &ldquo;underestimated the Irish drinker&rdquo; if it considers that alcohol price hikes and a possible ban on alcohol sponsorship of sporting events will substantially address the alcohol problem in Ireland, according to a GP specialising in addiction issues.</p>
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	Speaking to&nbsp;<em>IMT</em>&nbsp;before the minimum pricing announcement,&nbsp;<strong>Dr Garrett McGovern</strong>said price hikes would generally discourage less-established drinkers such as young people but not &ldquo;well-established drinkers&rdquo; who would drink no matter the price and could also access a &ldquo;thriving illicit market&rdquo;.</p>
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	Budget 2014 imposed a 10 cent increase on the price of a pint of beer, cider or a standard measure of spirits and a 50 cent increase on a bottle of wine.</p>
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	Dr McGovern said there appeared to be a belief from Government that the alcohol problem would be &ldquo;won and lost&rdquo; on pricing and advertising measures. People who were drinking heavily required help and the country also needed to &ldquo;radically change&rdquo; the way in which it delivered messages on alcohol to young people in educational settings.</p>
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	Stigma surrounding treatment access for alcohol-related problems also needed to be addressed and this required improving accessibility, said Dr McGovern. The alternative was that patients would keep presenting at a later stage to gastroenterology and emergency departments at high human and monetary cost.</p>
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	Dr McGovern was speaking as a new survey &mdash;&nbsp; &lsquo;Alcohol: A Review of Contemporary Usage and Attitudes&rsquo; &mdash; revealed more than two-fifths (42 per cent) of participants surveyed had a family history of alcohol problems.</p>
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	<a href="http://www.imt.ie/news/latest-news/2013/10/govt-has-underestimated-the-irish-drinker-on-pricing.html">http://www.imt.ie/news/latest-news/2013/10/govt-has-underestimated-the-irish-drinker-on-pricing.html</a></p>
