Sir, – The tragic deaths of young people in Ireland and elsewhere as a result of the internet drinking game is giving rise to a media flurry of shock headlines and other reporting. No doubt, this will die down in a week or two but the families and friends of these unfortunate youngsters will bear the pain of loss for a long time to come.
While the media’s reaction to such a spectacular form of alcohol abuse is to be expected, it in many ways ignores the extent and seriousness of alcohol abuse in general in our society.
The current “shock-horror” response to the neknomination is a distraction from the widespread alcohol abuse that lies at the root of so much domestic and street violence, road accidents, sexual aggression towards young women, family breakdown and physical and mental illness. Furthermore, it is a real distraction from the power that vested interests can exercise to ensure they continue to make vast profits from the sale of alcohol. – Yours, etc,
Dr MICHAEL J LOFTUS,
Main Street,
Crossmolina,
Co Mayo.