Madam, - How salutary it was to read Deaglán de Bréadún's article (Opinion, December 27th) on the travails of a modern-day teetotaller in Irish society, particularly at this time of year. As a reformed binge-drinker I could identify with many of his points.
While I cannot hold the drinks industry fully accountable for my Bacchanalian behaviour in my early student days, I am nevertheless galled when I think of the wanton, wilful targeting of my peers and I by drink industry giants through college advertising, drink promotions, happy hours, etc. We were grist to their corporate mill.
However, now that the more salubrious effects of drinking alcohol moderately are known, I am hesitant to throw out the goblets completely. I feel that a greater appreciation of viticulture and oenology in Ireland might temper our propensity to binge drinking. Indeed, Thomas Jefferson promoted wine as the best means of combating intemperance.
The onus falls on the Government to redouble its efforts to divorce the marriage of alcohol and Irish culture, which has been inculcated into our national psyche over centuries. It alone has the resources to curb alcoholism, binge-drinking and its devastating sequelae on a national scale. - Yours, etc.,
CRÓCHÁN O'SULLIVAN,
Grangebeg,
Dunlavin,
Co Wicklow.