ALCOHOL RESPONSE IRELAND

• ARI fully supports initiatives around alcohol price, availability and advertising but is concerned that, despite hundreds of thousands of euro being spent on such initiatives, results are disappointing. However, it will continue to support such initiatives.
• We are concerned about the current dilly-dallying around the Drink Driving issue but feel there are enough Volunteers working tirelessly on the matter. We support those Volunteers fully.

• For the foreseeable future ARI will primarily promote progress on the following issues:

• A fully informed, consistent, educational campaign which defines clearly what constitutes Problem Drinking. “Problem drinking is a pattern of drinking in which a person has lost control over their drinking so that it is interfering with some vital area of their life such as family, friends, job, school, health or other such area important for them.” is an example of such a definition.

The core idea is that from cradle to grave everyone would know the definition of problem drinking. This would help to ensure that they were at the very least aware of the level of their own or others drinking. Awareness means action and the printable leaflet in the helpful links menu is one suggested means of such widespread awareness building.

• The provision of opportunistic direct intervention measures for both alcohol user and concerned persons at every available opportunity.

(There is no such thing as an ineffective intervention. The response sometimes may not be instantaneous but it will always leave its mark.)

Frequently we deal only with the results of problem drinking. Rightly people are charged, fined and punished for illegal behaviour. But if problem alcohol intake is the core issue of the behaviour then there is an ideal opportunity to have an educational intervention with the offender and those close to them. The awareness of the real problem has meant that in the region of 55% will take the intervention seriously and act on it. Such interventions could be implemented in schools, health centres, Garda stations, hospitals and all areas of public interaction. PC programmes are available.

• The pro-active affirmation of those in our society who low-volume drink.

Low-volume drinkers are estimated to be in the region of 70% of drinkers. Frequently they are under intense peer pressure to drink more. High profile affirmation of this group will help to recruit their goodwill in dealing with the 30% or so problematic drinkers who cause the real dilemmas

• The pro-active affirmation of those in our society choosing not to take alcohol for personal or health reasons.

Non drinkers are also under enormous societal and peer pressure to partake. A major, active promotion campaign for positive, inclusive social attitudes to those in our society not taking alcohol through choice or for health reasons would begin to tackle this pressure. Being bullied into taking alcohol and the butt of derogatory terms, if refusing to do so, is wholly unacceptable.

Affirmation, respect and admiration needs to be encouraged for people’s personal healthy choices around their drinking or not doing so.

• Implementation of the key elements of the Strategic task force on Alcohol Report (2004).

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