National Alcohol Awareness Week begins today

Ireland's first National Alcohol Awareness Week begins today as the St Patrick's Day celebrations wind down for another year.

Alcohol Forum which is behind the awareness campaign, said it was a timely event since "Ireland's alcohol culture is of epidemic proportions and dangerously harmful".

There are a number of events taking place across the country, and "toolkits" for communities to deliver a self-help message across the board.

A half-day conference entitled 'The Power of Local Community in Reducing Harmful Drinking' will run alongside Ireland’s National Healthcare Conference taking place in the National Convention Centre Dublin on Wednesday, March 20.

Sports clubs and festival organisers are also being encouraged to get involved.