Drink price hike urged to stem suicides
In his opening address to the annual conference of the Irish Association of Suicidology (IAS), Dr John Owens, MHC chairperson, said there was a clear link between alcohol and suicide. Consumption of alcohol was also linked with mood swings, he said.
"There is a substantial case for an increase in the price of alcohol. Drinking is directly associated with suicide, not just because of the social disruption but also because of unemployment and the breakup of relationships.
"Alcoholism itself is often associated with high rates of depressive disorders. Drinking is often used as a way to facilitate the suicide act itself," Dr Owens said.
Meanwhile, a psychiatrist attending the conference called for a ban on alcopops which, he claimed, were making it too easy for young people to drink alcohol.
Consumption of alcopops rose from 150,000 litres to 600,000 litres, between 1996 and 2001, with cider consumption rising from 300,000 litres to 600,000 litres over the same period.
"Alcopops are specifically targeted at younger age groups and women, sectors where the drinks industry needs to expand sales," said Dr Justin Brophy, consultant psychiatrist, Wicklow Mental Health Services.
He said by making drinks sweeter, the strongest possible alcohol was available to vulnerable people. "This is a most serious situation as adolescents and women are twice as susceptible to the toxic effects of alcohol, which can cause brain and liver damage," Dr Brophy said. Meanwhile, IAS secretary, Dr John Connolly, said Ireland now had the second highest suicide rate in the world for young men, second only to New Zealand.
The increase in suicides was paralleled by a 40% rise in alcohol consumption between 1989 and 1999.
"Among our EU partners, Ireland is the only country where youth suicide rates continue to rise. For most of our neighbours, rates of alcohol consumption have fallen as have suicide rates," Dr Connolly said.
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