Madam, - Dr Conor Farren of St Patrick's Hospital, Dublin recently told an Oireachtas committee that alcohol abuse was now rampant in Ireland and was getting worse (The Irish Times, March 2nd). He added that we topped the European table for binge drinking, that we spent some €7 billion a year on alcohol and that almost 500,000 Irish people were either alcoholics or "alcohol-abusive".
To say the least, these figures are alarming, but most disturbing of all is Dr Farren's conclusion that there is neither the political nor public will to tackle the alcohol abuse crisis. Given that little or no significant action has been taken to implement the recommendations of the National Strategic Task Force on Alcoholism, Dr Farren is correct.
To date, we have had two interim reports from the task force (2002 and 2004). Both outlined measures that can and must be taken to counter the spiralling abuse of alcohol in Ireland. Significantly, the more recent report - now almost two years old - said the drinks industry itself had taken very few steps to deal with the problem.
On the contrary, indeed, it had increased the demand for alcohol by advertising, promoting and increasing the availability of drink products. The task force saw the effect of excessive drinking on young people as particularly worrying. It recommended that drinks advertising be limited by controlling the way alcohol is advertised, by making sure advertisements are not placed where they are likely to affect children and young people and by monitoring their content to ensure they are not likely to appeal to children.
As we approach the St Patrick's Day festivities, we should remember that last year about 1,000 people were arrested for public order offences on or around our national day. Most cases involved excessive drinking by younger people. I hope there will not be a repeat of last year's scenes in cities and towns throughout the country, but I am not optimistic, given the lack of action by Government, State agencies or the drinks industry. I suspect that after St Patrick's Day we will get the same old rá-rá from drinks companies about their campaigns to encourage "responsible drinking".
No doubt too, we will get the same wringing of hands in official circles about the abuse of alcohol by young people. The Strategic Taskforce on Alcohol Abuse made some excellent recommendations on how the problem might be tackled. Surely, those who are in a position to have those recommendations implemented cannot continue to stand idly by as the crisis gets worse? - Yours, etc,
Dr MICHAEL LOFTUS, Crossmolina, Co. Mayo.
Madam, - High rates of binge drinking by young people are an ongoing concern. Research indicates that Irish 16-year-olds have more positive expectations about alcohol than any other group of teens across Europe. Relentless advertising by the drinks industry contributes to these positive expectations, which in turn promote consumption.
The Tánaiste recently decided to proceed with self-regulation of alcohol advertising. She had been lobbied by the industry to permit advertising during TV programmes where up to 33 per cent of the viewers are children. The industry was unhappy with the initial proposed cut-off of 25 per cent.
Children account for just 25 per cent of the Irish population. Consequently, if a TV programme is equally appealing to children and adults, then one would expect children to account for 25 per cent of the viewers. Children will not from more than 25 per cent of viewers unless the program is more attractive to children than it is to adults. Despite this simple fact, the Minister for Health and Children agreed to permit the industry to advertise during programs where up 33 per cent of the viewers are children.
Why does the drinks industry want to advertise during programs which are of particular appeal to children? While the drinks industry continues to act as the lead player in determining alcohol policy in Ireland, we cannot expect alcohol-related problems in Ireland to diminish in any age group. - Yours, etc,
Dr BOBBY SMYTH, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College, Dublin 2.