Every day of my working life recently I am asked to interview boys and girls, as young as 15 and 16, who are seriously dependent on alcohol. Like many other counsellors I also regularly come across tragic stories of acute alcohol related depressive episodes among young people, which have led to suicide attempts.
Last Wednesday I sat with many other delegates at the Department of Health conference on alcohol and young people and listened to the launch of another initiative on this problem. I heard one of the best speeches ever from a politician on alcohol. It was good because it was honest and unequivocal.
"Here's the bad news and it's very bad news: Ireland's young people are drinking more than their peers in any other European country . . . None of us can be proud of topping that particular league."
The opening words were from the speech by Micheal Martin, the Minister for Health. He told us that the cost of alcohol-related problems was £1.7 billion in 1999, but the human cost is inestimable and he stated his personal opposition to deregulation of off-licences and pubs.
He had hardly sat down when the various vested interests and many commentators were dismissing the initiative. A representative from the drinks industry trotted out the tired and spurious old argument that alcohol advertising only helps people to choose between brands. As some young people might reply, "yeah, right!"
Even the desperately disappointing National Alcohol Policy of 1996 dealt with this one.
"Countries with a ban on spirits advertising have about 16 per cent lower alcohol consumption than countries with no bans. Countries with bans on beer and wine advertising have about 11 per cent lower alcohol consumption than countries with bans only on spirits advertising." (Page 50, National Alcohol Policy)
There was very little enthusiasm in the media. The Minister was accused of "fine talk, no action over alcohol abuse". One headline read: "Responses to drinking by the young beyond a joke". The editorial of The Irish Times of February 15th contained the phrase: "It's a bit rich for the Minister to lecture the public on the need to face up to the reality of our national alcohol problem."
All well written and well argued pieces, but surely any initiative is better than none. Yes, there have been several other initiatives and, yes, they have all failed miserably. But let us give this one a chance.
I believe this Minister is genuine in wanting to tackle the alcohol problem and means business. He will, of course, face stern opposition from the vested interests within his own party and without, but he did have the courage to call it as it is.
Can anyone ever forget the humiliating climbdown by a minister some years ago when trying to reduce the drink-driving limits in the face of a barrage of criticism from those same vested interests? It seems that if anyone dares speak out about the "family secret" they will be subject to vilification. I cannot think of one coherent argument to justify any use of alcohol while driving.
Our elevation to the top of the drinking league is a national scandal, which has tragic sequels for individuals, families and the community. Accidental deaths, suicide, violence, family dysfunction, manslaughter, damage to every part of the body, and other drug use - these are just some of the disastrous consequences resulting from our excessive use of alcohol.
This is a national problem and it is not just confined to young people. A narrow focus allows adults to escape responsibility.
Nevertheless we must respond to those increasing numbers of young people who are drinking to get drunk and running the risk of dependence and fatality. We in the Irish College of General Practitioners are so concerned that we are holding a national conference on the subject in October, "Alcohol and young people, a general practice response to an epidemic".
If the alarming trends are to be reversed, we all need to come together to tackle this problem. There are no simple solutions.
Health professionals, young people, parents, the drinks industry, the Garda, the media, youth leaders, teachers, self-help groups, the Government and others all have an important part to play in finding the complex solutions.
Changing our attitudes to drinking and reducing consumption is a long-term project. I hope the Minister will have the courage to follow through with this initiative and not be discouraged by opposition. He has certainly managed to raise awareness.
Other measures which could help would include:
a ban on alcohol advertising and alcohol sponsorship of sport;
a sustained campaign to ensure that the general public is aware of safe alcohol consumption levels for health;
a rigorous enforcement of legislation;
a tax on the drinks industry profits to go directly to health promotion;
realistic spending on treatment facilities;
the employment of alcohol/addiction counsellors in all general hospitals;
funding for thorough research;
comprehensive training for all health professionals; and
increases in the price of alcohol together with a corresponding decrease in the cost of soft drinks.
Parents can make a difference. Better supervision of their children, more liaison with other parents and the reporting of those individuals who cynically serve under-age drinkers are some suggestions. Politicians should be asked where they stand on this issue.
I agree with the Minister that deregulation of pub licences and off-licences should not take place for reasons of public health, because our attitudes to alcohol are so immature. International research indicates that problems are even greater if there is more access to alcohol.
As a minimum, let us have an informed debate about the deregulation issue before greedy market forces and concerns for the tourism trade lead to further outrageous statistics and still more tragic personal stories.
Rolande Anderson is alcohol/addiction counsellor and project director at the Irish College of General Practitioners and was assistant director at the Rutland Centre from 1997 to 1999, and assistant director of the alcohol/chemical dependence programme at St Patrick's Hospital from 1978 to 1997