Alcohol a factor in almost half of murders
The overview of recent studies found alcohol-related violence is posing an increasing array of problems for society, putting additional demands on already-stretched healthcare services.
The report warns the scale of the problem is continuing to grow, with individual alcohol consumption increasing by 2.7% in 2007 after four years of static figures.
Other key findings include:
* More than a quarter of admissions to A&E wards are for alcohol-related injuries.
* Alcohol is a factor in 25% of all severe domestic abuse cases.
* Two-thirds of women drink during pregnancy.
* Liver disease among Irish people has increased by 148% over a 10-year period.
* Alcohol is a factor in more than a third of road deaths.
* Alcohol-related cancers are set to increase by 81%-100% by 2020.
The report — Alcohol Related Harm in Ireland — paints a stark picture of the damaging effect of alcohol on drinkers, their families and friends and others who suffer as a result of alcohol-induced actions including violence, unprotected sex and drink driving.
Author Dr Ann Hope, a HSE adviser on alcohol policy, says the report paints “a grim picture of the increasingly negative role played by alcohol in Irish society”.
“The dramatic increase in alcohol-related harm does not bode well for the future health and wellbeing of the population in Ireland,” said Dr Hope.
She warned that Ireland was “moving in the wrong direction” and efforts must be made to reduce alcohol harm to pre-1995 levels at a minimum.
The report also contains a veiled criticism of the Government as it highlighted the absence of a national structure to implement reports of its own strategic taskforce on alcohol.
Dr Hope recommended the establishment of a national agency, similar to existing bodies with responsibility for drugs and tobacco.
The report’s findings are likely to place further pressure on the Government to propose a range of measures designed to limit the sale of alcohol through off-licences.
