Education 'key to averting alcohol problems'

Education in schools and at home is key to any measures attempting to tackle alcohol problems in society, the drinks industry claimed today.

After a new European Commission publication on alcohol abuse highlighted methods to address the problem, the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) said Ireland’s policy on the issue was already at or above the standards proposed.

DIGI said the industry would support the Commissions’ view that education from schools, parents and figures in society was essential to any measure seeking to modify drinking behaviours at community level.

Michael Patten, chairman of DIGI, said: “The Commission document acknowledges that any attempt to impose a single European-wide solution to tackle the problem of alcohol misuse will not be successful.

“The problem of alcohol misuse can only be successfully tackled at local level and the Commission recognises that member states are best placed to decide what strategies are most appropriate in their respective situations.”

The study ‘Communication on Alcohol and Health – an EU strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol related harm’ found 55 million adults are estimated to drink at harmful levels – which amounts to four drinks a day for men and two drinks a day for women. Harmful alcohol consumption is estimated to be responsible for around 195,000 deaths a year.

More than one in four deaths from traffic accidents are believed to be caused by drink-driving.

He said the research recognised the most effective way to address alcohol abuse is by ensuring all the social partners work together at national and local level. Mr Patten said this was already underway in Ireland.

He said the industry acknowledged the seriousness of the problems caused by alcohol misuse in Ireland.