Alcohol-fuelled crimes reduced by 7,500

MORE than 7,500 fewer alcohol-fuelled crimes were committed between February and August 2003, compared with the same period in 2002, garda statistics show.

However, the drop is from a very high base and the number of such crimes is still at an unacceptably high level, according to garda and medical experts.

“What I would hope is that all the various methods to try and reduce alcohol use may be kicking in a little bit,” said Rolande Anderson of the Irish College of General Practitioners. “I would not like to overstate that, because we still have a massive problem, particularly with the young age group.”