60% of coroner’s work alcohol-related

A RECENTLY retired coroner has revealed that 60% of cases he dealt with during his 32 years in the job were alcohol-related.

Former GAA president and practising GP Dr Mick Loftus said of the 250 or so deaths he adjudicated on during his term in the job in North Mayo, more than half had their origin in car crashes, accidents, suicides or other fatalities which were drink-related.

“Nothing in this world is causing the devastation which drink is either in our society, our homes or our schools. It's everywhere. I may be considered a spoil sport when I make such comments, but I’ve seen them with my own eyes as a GP and more so even in my 32 years as a coroner,” Dr Loftus said yesterday.

The sports enthusiast made his comments as he prepared to launch a national drink awareness poster campaign developed by students at Waterford’s Institute of Technology. “I’m not anti-drink, but I do think that the promotion of it has gone completely out of hand, particularly where young people are concerned. The drinks companies can say what they like but it's obvious from any of the adverts on our televisions that young people are being targeted.

“Something must be done when latest figures show us that 80% of our under-16s have taken a drink. We’re not doing enough as a society. Even sports organisations right through from hurling to rugby need to think of the message they are giving our young people while being involved in sponsorship deals with drinks companies.

“These drinks companies are spending 80 million a year on such promotion and sponsorship and they will want a return on that. They banned sports-related advertising in France and in Chicago with great effect. It's time that we did the same.

Waterford Institute of Technology closed its bar during rag week last year and has developed a code of practice for all drinks-related activity on campus.

Posters created by students will form a nationwide campaign which will begin in secondary schools from next week, aimed at highlighting the risks associated with binge-drinking and under-age drinking.