NOBODY NEEDS to be told that Ireland has a serious drink problem. It is reflected in the high incidence of road deaths and injuries; in an elevated level of mental illness and depression; in binge drinking; in absenteeism from work and in full-blown alcohol addiction. But we are in denial when it comes to personal consumption and the effects our behaviour may have on young people.
A survey by the Health Service Executive (HSE), designed to counteract teenage drinking, shows just how far down this self-destructive road we have gone. Fewer than one-in-three of the adults questioned said they would be willing to consume less, if they thought it might discourage young people from drinking. Only one-in-five acknowledged their drinking habits influenced young people. And 55 per cent maintained nothing could be done to stop young people from drinking.
These are scary figures. They point to incipient alcohol addiction or extreme selfishness, where a majority of adults are unwilling to modify their drinking patterns even when it might be of assistance to young people. Giving good example is not easy. It requires self-discipline and, sometimes, courage. It is part of the cement that holds society together and it is a vital ingredient in civic responsibility. At a time when personal gratification has been promoted as a greater good, we need to review our values.
Parents, in particular, need to take a cold, hard look at their drinking habits, especially in the home, and consider the example they are setting for their children. A HSE advertising campaign will address this issue and encourage parents and adults to talk to young people about alcohol and to listen to their concerns. Adults, according to public health specialist Joe Barry, underestimate the influence they can have on teenagers. Good advice and a responsible use of alcohol will not just reduce the number of young people drinking but, crucially, may delay the age at which they start.
A lack of joined-up thinking in the actions of the HSE and the Government is disappointing. Last year, the HSE called for an increase in drink prices in order to reduce consumption and to improve public health. It was rebuffed in both recent budgets. Now, public money is being spent to achieve that same outcome. The drinks industry is so influential the Government seems only prepared to tackle the effects, rather than the causes, of widespread alcohol abuse. It is time to take stock.