Fianna Fail is planning a special levy on off-licences to combat suicide prevention.  This proposed 7.5 per cent levy could lead to a major expansion of the services covering suicide.
Figures have risen especially among young people and those suffering heavily from the recession. Immigrants are another group of people affected.
Students doing exams are all vulnerable. There has been a strong link to over consumption of alcohol and suicide. Those suffering from depression who drink a lot of alcohol sometimes take their own life and would not do so if they were sober.
Publicans, in the past, have argued against the proliferation of off licences.  They say there is no control of drinking in houses compared to in pubs where experienced bar staff can monitor excessive drinking and be able to say when someone has had enough.
Fianna Fail wants the budget for suicide prevention to go from €7m to €8.5m and to be funded by this special levy.

Fianna Fail is planning a special levy on off-licences to combat suicide prevention.  This proposed 7.5 per cent levy could lead to a major expansion of the services covering suicide. Figures have risen especially among young people and those suffering heavily from the recession. Immigrants are another group of people affected.
Students doing exams are all vulnerable. There has been a strong link to over consumption of alcohol and suicide. Those suffering from depression who drink a lot of alcohol sometimes take their own life and would not do so if they were sober.  Publicans, in the past, have argued against the proliferation of off licences.  They say there is no control of drinking in houses compared to in pubs where experienced bar staff can monitor excessive drinking and be able to say when someone has had enough.