Drinks firm defends Arthur’s Day event

Drinks giant Diageo has been forced to defend its Arthur’s Day celebration — a Guinness-sponsored music event — after it was attacked by doctors and well-known personalities.

Doctors have said, that with high rates of alcohol abuse and liver disease, Ireland did not need another campaign promoting alcohol consumption.

Singer Christy Moore and the Waterboys are releasing anti-Arthur’s Day songs on Thursday to coincide with the event, which has also been condemned by actor Gabriel Byrne and popular writer Marian Keyes.

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland will hold a public meeting in Dublin tonight to discuss the country’s relationship with alcohol.

“With high rates of alcohol consumption and binge drinking, we don’t need another reason to drink,” said the head of the RCPI’s policy group on alcohol, Frank Murray.

Prof Murray said that the effects of the country’s relationship with drink were to be seen in hospitals’ emergency departments and liver units.

“One in four emergency department attendances are alcohol-related,” he said.

Stephen Stewart, liver disease specialist and director of the Liver Disease Centre in the Mater Hospital, Dublin, said measures were needed to address Ireland’s alcohol epidemic.

“Where does Arthur’s Day fit into all of this?” said Dr Stewart.

“I regularly see patients in their 30s and 40s, and women in particular, with end-stage liver disease, having never realised they have a drink problem.”

Christy Moore has described Arthur’s Day, established in 2009, as “Arthur’s alcoholiday” in his protest song.

Marian Keyes said Arthur’s Day was a marketing attempt to latch on to Irish identity and pride.

Film director Lenny Abrahamson, actor Donal O’Kelly, and musicians Steve Wall and Declan O’Rourke also condemned the event.

Gabriel Byrne said Arthur’s Day was simply a way of encouraging people to get drunk.

However, Diageo said Guinness was showcasing emerging Irish music talent by offering them a stage at over 500 music events.

Diageo said it had implemented a responsible drinking awareness campaign around Arthur’s Day and gave clear advice to pubs creating their own events.

In particular, it was encouraging all 500 participating pubs to give our free water and food at the larger ticketed venues.