Sir, – The constant evidence, through news reports, of continued alcohol-fuelled crime and injury makes for disturbing reading. Dealing with the consequences is not dealing with the real issue, which ultimately is that of serious problem drinking.
For some 25 years I have campaigned for opportunistic educational intervention around alcohol intake when criminal or health-related matters arise. Brief intervention at Garda stations, educational colleges and emergency wards would go a long way towards naming the problem directly with abusers and giving them the opportunity to take positive action.
It should not be too difficult, and would be eminently cost effective, to devise a manner of making it appealing for patients or those under arrest to partake in the process. This approach will ultimately have to be adapted but those charged with developing such strategies appear unwilling or unable to see this.
And what of those trapped within the ripple effects of someone else’s problem drinking? Men, women and children can suffer for a lifetime from the horrendous negative side-effects of a family member’s drinking. They too are frequently left abandoned in alcohol’s trail of destruction, afraid, unheard and unaided. As a psychotherapist, over 70 per cent of those I see are present because of problem drinking in themselves or someone close to them.
There has been enough talk, enough reports and enough studies. Alcohol-related problems increase in periods of economic downturn. Taxpayers’ money has been wasted on projects and badly constructed campaigns on this issue. They have got it wrong despite being informed that this would happen and now someone with authority must listen.
The proactive introduction of intervention, the early education as to what defines problem drinking and the proactive affirmation of low-volume and non-drinkers in our society would alter our whole “cultural” attitude around alcohol in a generation. In a time of such shortages of funds, no less indeed than any other time, it behoves us to review our expenditure and support appropriate, effective action.
GERRY HICKEY,
Dublin 2.
Sir, – Raising the price of alcohol fuelled the phenomenon of “pre-drinking” and saw people coming into town drunk before the evening had even begun. The rigidly defined closing hours of pubs see patrons racing to “get a few more in” before closing time. It also has the result of forcing nearly every drunk person onto the city streets and into the same takeaways and taxi ranks at the same time. It’s no surprise that these factors have resulted in a pattern of routine chaos.
It’s not just the Government at fault, bar and club owners also have a fair share of blame to take. International visitors are rarely prepared for the extreme noise volume from the sound systems inside most pubs. These speakers are so loud some nightgoers have taken to wearing ear plugs as part of their evening attire. Publicans keep their speaker systems at maximum volume to discourage conversation and instead encourage more drinking. One can only imagine the long-term hearing implications of a Dublin citizen repeatedly exposed to these environments.
Common sense dedicates we extend the hours of pubs and clubs to remove the routine collective chaos that is Dublin at closing time. Imagine how that would change the city if we removed that bottle neck. The city would slowly empty itself over the course of several hours until only the most committed of partygoers remained. Taxies and restaurants would be under less pressure while people would be more inclined to pace their drinking if they wanted to last the whole night. That’s not to say there won’t always be a fringe element of people determined to drink themselves into a stupor, but for the majority of revellers this would have a big effect on behaviour. We need only look to some of our European neighbours and the effect later closing hours have on the cities nightlife.
By simply lowering the price of alcohol in the pub we will be removing the pressure on people to “start at home”. We have seen how little effect the raising of prices has on curbing excessive drinking, so we might as well stop people from arriving into the city drunk before the evening has even begun.
We need to consider new options, even if they might seem counterintuitive given our habit of restrictive legislation.
Ireland should adopt a system like France’s where the maximum legal noise level from speakers is linked to the size of the venue. It would create a better atmosphere and we might retain our hearing a few years longer.
Dublin is an amazing city during the day. Let’s make it equally fantastic at night. – Yours, etc,
CONOR BRADY,
Drumree,
Co Meath.