Sir, – Minister of State Róisín Shortall voiced frustration with parents who opt to give their teenagers alcohol (Front page, January 18th). She pointed out that this was a counterproductive strategy, however well-intentioned. While your reporting of her comments was reasonably neutral, the subsequent discussion in the media was far from balanced.
Most radio comment sought to present the Minister as attacking parents en masse. Indeed a spokesperson for the National Parents Council expressed annoyance at the Minister’s comments and elaborated on her support for the myth that giving teenagers alcohol in the home magically teaches them to drink alcohol responsibly.
We have published research on the views of Irish parents on this practice. This has confirmed that the majority of parents think introducing teenagers to alcohol at home is a bad idea. From my own experience of delivering talks to parents on teenage alcohol use, it has become clear to me that this majority of parents are very frustrated with the one in four parents who think it’s good to give their children alcohol, and perceive them as letting the side down.
Recent research studies from US, Australia and Northern Ireland confirm that teenagers who drink under adult supervision experience more, not less, alcohol- related harm than those who live with adults who are unwilling to “supervise” their drinking. This is because, on average, teenagers who drink with mummy and daddy still do most of their drinking with their mates in unsupervised settings. Rather than being simply ineffective, the introduction of teenagers to alcohol at home is actually harmful.
Unfortunately for us parents, we are bringing our children up in a society where intoxication is entirely acceptable if not expected, and where the majority of adult drinkers use alcohol in an unhealthy manner.
Irish teenagers are mirroring the harmful drinking practices of their elders but are starting their drinking careers about two years younger than a generation ago.
Nevertheless, there are effective evidence-based strategies which parents can employ to reduce the risk of alcohol-related harm for their children, although risk cannot be eliminated. These include the parents reducing their own drinking, establishing and consistently applying clear household rules and expectations and actively monitoring their teenager’s whereabouts. Interested parents could read through the “Straight Talk” guide on the Irish Health Promotion Unit website.
As someone who is very keen to see politicians grasp the nettle of Ireland’s drink problem, it is frustrating to see someone castigated when they get it right.
Despite the media’s effort to characterise the Minister as attacking parents, her comments were supportive of the majority view among parents in Ireland and most importantly, the advice she gave was backed up by scientific evidence.
It seems odd that the National Parents Council could be so out of touch with the views of real Irish parents on this issue and so willing to propose a practice which actually increases the risk of harm to children. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Conor Farren (Opinion, January 23rd), makes a valuable contribution to the debate about our cultural attitude to alcohol consumption and alcohol misuse in general. The drinks industry has been inputting constructively to this debate, and looks forward to the publication of the report of the National Substance Misuse Strategy Group that we have been involved in for the past two years. While we have concerns about specific recommendations calling for blanket bans and restrictions, we will support the overwhelming majority of the report’s recommendations on how to address alcohol misuse.
However, in considering this important issue, we must do so in possession of the correct facts. In this regard, Dr Farren is not correct in stating we are in the midst of a “massive rise” in alcohol consumption. The opposite is the case.
Consumption of alcohol in Ireland, as measured by the Revenue Commissioners, has been declining for a decade and this decline has accelerated in recent years due to lifestyle changes, the economic downturn, and lower consumer confidence. As a result, Irish consumption at approximately nine litres per capita, is approaching EU norms.
Demographic changes and emigration mean that this downward trend is likely to continue.
Policy-makers and all of us involved in this debate must bear this in mind when considering overall policy to ensure that our actions are targeted at those who misuse alcohol rather than on the need to reduce overall consumption that is already declining. – Yours, etc,