Two weeks ago I raised several questions about a clause in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill that sought to prohibit the alcohol industry from sponsoring sport in Ireland. Last Friday it was announced that this clause has been dropped from the new Bill. A backlash from major sporting associations and a failure to secure replacement funding was cited as the cause for removing the clause. Other pricing and information measures in the Bill are set to be maintained. The Irish Independent reported that the ban has been deferred and a study group will report on the issue in a years’ time. This delay will hopefully provide time for more research to be undertaken and may also provide a window of opportunity to seek alternative funding – an unenviable challenge to say the least.