Fine Gael MEP Avril Doyle warned today that binge drinking has become a Europe-wide problem.
In the wake of yesterday's St Patrick's Day celebrations which saw over 700 people arrested across the State for mainly drink-related disturbances, Ms Doyle said the time had come for an EU-level response to counter the growing drink culture across the generations.
"The exuberance of youth has always resulted in the occasional night of over indulgence, but this is different. What we now have is a culture of persistent binge drinking." She said.
"While it will come as no surprise that binge drinking is on the increase among young people, it must be recognised that it is not just a feature of youth. It is a serious problem among young adults, especially young men, in most countries in the EU - and especially in Ireland if last night is anything to go by."
According to latest figures, 25 per cent of deaths among European men aged between 15 and 29 years is alcohol-related, and a 50 per cent of all deaths due to injury in Europe involve alcohol. Alcohol is also involved in a quarter of all European road accidents. "Binge drinking has become a particular problem at weekends" added Ms Doyle.
"As more and more young people have more and more disposable income, that money is being spent on alcohol."
She called for an EU-wide ban on the sales of "alcopops" at petrol stations, and other late-night outlets, adding: "European Health Ministers must also tackle the burden of alcohol-related avoidable death and suffering, especially among young people - as well as addressing the fact that child abuse and violence against women are often linked to excessive alcohol consumption.
"For a European alcohol policy to be effective at national level a myriad of issues must be addressed. The pattern of drinking in Ireland must be looked at very seriously, but so too must the ready accessibility of alcohol, the desires of society for instant gratification and our increasing inability to say 'no'."
PA