Bodoe: Govt cannot remain ‘passive observer’ on youth drinking

Health Min­is­ter Dr Lack­ram Bo­doe says high lev­els of binge drink­ing among young adults and ear­ly al­co­hol use among school­child­ren show why the Gov­ern­ment can­not re­main a “pas­sive ob­serv­er” and must in­ter­vene to pro­tect young peo­ple.

Speak­ing dur­ing de­bate on the Mis­cel­la­neous Pro­vi­sions (Al­co­hol, Cannabis, Dan­ger­ous Drugs, Gam­bling and To­bac­co) Bill, 2026, in the Sen­ate, Bo­doe re­ject­ed ar­gu­ments that the pro­posed age re­stric­tions were an at­tack on young peo­ple.

“I want to say here to­day that this Bill is for young peo­ple,” Bo­doe said.