Sir, – Trap has picked his squad and Joxer is packed for Gdansk. Irish fans eagerly await a chance for austerity distraction. Meanwhile Drinkaware/Meas, yes the same people who strongly objected to the National Drug Misuse Strategy on alcohol, has written a Euro 2012 “survival guide” apparently approved by the Tánaiste and John Delaney. Did they read it properly before they allowed themselves to be used in that photo shoot?
It is a curious document on alcohol in that it has travel tips, a section on sun damage from a pharmacy chain and advice on all things Polish (little on Ukraine — do they not expect us to do well?!) including the Polish for coffee, tea, beer and wine. No really helpful phrases for those who do get drunk such as, “I’m p***ed, please help me, I don’t know what country I am in”.
Then some incredible statements regarding alcohol some of which might even be offensive to our EU friends. The leaflet tells us that the Poles frown upon public drunkenness and it will be treated harshly. Surely it is the same here, is it not? Do we approve of public drunkenness and treat it gently? Did you know that, “alcohol can diminish your senses and make you particularly attractive to thieves”? Should that not be “vulnerable”? And under a heading, “Inflight entertainment”: “pressurised cabins can make the drink hit harder and leave you with a killer hangover”. I was sure drinking too much was the cause.
The section on “Let’s talk about sex” is the worst of all and makes ridiculous, sweeping and outrageous assertions. “Hooking up abroad is one of travel’s greatest pleasures and one of the main reasons we go anywhere” (Oh no! who is this aimed at?). If “there is a fun crowd you have just met who are buying you shots all night”, the advice is to “stay alert” – well how in the name of football could you stay alert if you are drinking shots all night? No mention of drugs, nothing about clinical depression, not even a hint of empathy or advice for the folk who go to see the soccer totally sober.
This is yet another example of the drinks industry, hiding behind Drinkaware, straying into areas that it knows nothing about and it simply should not be allowed.
What next from the industry? An Irish player offered millions to change his name by deed poll to Carl S Berg! – Yours, etc,