Susan Calnan asks when will the case for moderation establish itself against rising alcohol consumption?
Recent festivities will have inevitably resulted in a sharp rise in the levels of alcohol consumption, with many of us vowing to start the New Year in self-imposed sobriety.
But although a considerable number of people may have the best of intentions at this time of year, as a nation of drinkers are we in serious need of learning the art of moderation?
Figures show Irish people are among the highest consumers of alcohol in Europe, with a consumption rate of 13.5 litres of pure alcohol per adult in 2003. Furthermore, in a study of seven European countries, Ireland had the highest level of binge drinkers, with 58 per cent of drinking occasions ending up in binge drinking among men and 30 per cent among women.
And if people are in any doubt about the negative effects of having one too many, then take note: alcohol is now the third most detrimental risk factor for European ill-health and premature death, after tobacco and high blood pressure.
In a recent report published by the Department of Health and Children's Strategic Task Force on Alcohol, it was revealed that Ireland's alcohol-related problems cost the State in excess of €2.65 billion annually, while an estimated €6 billion of personal income is spent on alcohol in Ireland.
According to an excerpt from the Task Force's recently published 2004 Interim Report: "alcohol harm is visible throughout Ireland; on the streets, in the courts, hospitals, workplaces, schools and homes".
The report adds that despite the tendency to "blame" underage drinkers, the vast majority of "alcohol harm" - street violence, accidents, hospital admissions, drunk driving, alcohol poisoning, suicides, alcohol dependency, cancers and cirrhosis - occurs among the adult population.
So why, in a society that has experienced such rapid economic growth and with increased employment opportunities, are Irish people still drinking so much?
According to counselling psychologist with St John of God's Hospital in Dublin, Anne-Marie McMahon, there are a multiplicity of reasons why high alcohol consumption and alcohol addiction is still such a widespread problem in Ireland.
Increases in disposable income, the greater availability of alcohol and the cultural importance that has traditionally been placed on alcohol, particularly during important occasions, are just some of the reasons behind rising consumption.
However, McMahon emphasises that, in her experience, the major factors that have influenced the rise in consumption are stress and mental health problems. "Alcohol addiction frequently disguises other emotional and mental problems," she says.
"For example, if an individual doesn't deal with their depression, it can explode into a drink problem and then the drink problem and other issues have to be faced."
She adds that many people drink today in order to cope with the ever-growing levels of stress, which are endemic in modern society; and although attitudes have changed somewhat in relation to mental health, McMahon insists there is still a huge stigma associated with having a mental health problem.
"Because of the stigma that still persists, a lot of people are not dealing properly with personal issues such as depression and relationship problems, and they sometimes turn to alcohol, which in turn exacerbates the problem," she adds.
Although Ireland's rate of alcohol consumption is still worryingly high, a spokesperson for the Health Promotion Unit at the Department of Health and Children points to a number of successful initiatives, aimed at reducing and preventing alcohol abuse in Ireland.
The Government's ongoing alcohol awareness campaign, for example, is, it claims, helping to raise awareness of alcohol as a public health issue among the general public, and legislation is being drafted by the parliamentary draftsman, which aims to reduce the exposure of children to alcohol advertising and marketing.
It has also strengthened the licensing laws through the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003, which contains measures to counter drunkenness and disorderly conduct and to combat underage drinking.
In 2002, the Government set up the Strategic Task Force on Alcohol, whose remit is to recommend specific, evidence-based measures to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm in Ireland.
The Task Force published its second report last September, outlining 78 recommendations on measures the Government needs to implement to help stem the growing problem of alcohol abuse and the high levels of consumption in Ireland.
Key objectives as outlined in the report include: reducing the total per capita consumption to the EU average; reducing harmful consumption of alcohol, especially binge drinking; providing greater protection for children from pressures to drink; and preventing the risk of alcohol-related harm in a variety of settings. As of yet, none of the recommendations has been implemented, however, and the report still has to be presented to the Government.
"The Task Force has done its job, but the Government still hasn't acted on its recommendations," says Dr Joe Barry, senior lecturer at the Department of Community Health and General Practice, TCD, and a member of the Task Force on Alcohol.
"There is a general consensus - not just among those in the health service but also among the gardaí, the youth sector and other community groups - that we have a big problem with alcohol in this country. The recommendations outlined in the report are based on evidence and it's important that they are implemented sooner rather than later," he says.
In addition to implementing the recommendations of the Task Force, McMahon insists education and better integration of mental health services is critical in helping reduce the alcohol problem in Ireland.
"We need to educate people about the importance of mental and emotional health and to encourage a greater awareness of life issues," she claims.
McMahon adds she is particularly concerned about the number of young people who are starting to drink at a younger age, as well as the dramatic increase in alcohol consumption by Irish women and says that as a society we need to look more closely at the issues that are causing people to drink more heavily.
"The Celtic Tiger has brought with it its own problems, such as the greater disparity between the rich and the poor and increased consumerism," McMahon adds.
"We need to look at the different issues that are affecting society today, for example, the breakdown in marriages, loneliness, peer pressure, depression.
"Equally important, we need to give people more hope today - we're great at giving handouts in this country - but people want more than that. They want to feel optimistic about the future and to feel that there are opportunities out there for them; as a society we need to realise that emotional and mental health is just as important, if not more, than economic wellbeing," she adds.