Alcohol Response - Budget 2010
The changes in excise duty on alcohol in the budget are disturbing but sadly understandable. However this does not make the move excusable, health-wise. Alarmingly, the budgetary move lacks provision for effective action to counter the inevitable increase in problem drinking which will result. Many experts are already expressing concern about the increase of home drinking due to the financial downturn.
The prospect of reduced alcohol cost without redress measures will ultimately mean a massive increase in alcohol related problems. Dealing with the consequences is not dealing with the real issue and daily we are reminded of those consequences. Surely they present an ideal opportunity for Prospective Educational Intervention around alcohol intake?
Brief-intervention at Garda stations, colleges and A & E wards would go someway towards at least naming the problem directly with the abuser 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 the patient or arrestee to partake in the process.
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.
There has been enough talk, enough reports, and enough studies. Alcohol-related problems increase in periods of economic downturn. Hundreds of thousands of tax payers Euro have been spent on projects and policies around this issue. We contend that much of this spending is ineffective and urgent helpful action is needed. In a time of such shortages of funds, no less indeed than any other time, it behoves us to review such expenditure and support appropriate, effective action.