Mature drinkers should look at themselves first

Alcohol is not just a young problem.

The debate surrounding the Swedish House Mafia concert has continued this week, and the usually more senior commentators have emerged to cast disdain on the youth of Ireland’s drinking habits.

It seems easy from their lofty precocious mindsets to cast dispersion over our young people in the safe knowledge the spotlight is not on their generations. They think gulping red wine over dinner every night, or getting drunk ‘sociably’ at gala events, is perfectly acceptable.

The older generations’ relationship with alcohol is far more deep-rooted than any twenty-somethings at a concert.

From my own observations, drink-driving is a much bigger problem with people over the age of forty, but in adverts on television the drunk driver in the reconstructions is always a young man in his early twenties.

The problem with alcohol in Ireland, and our link to it, is inherited, so the ‘mature’ commentators have to take a look at themselves in the mirror first before venting disgust at the young.

It is hypocritical for these people to go on radio and brandish the people at that concert a disgrace just because no one sees them stumble at a badly disguised, dressed-up dinner party.

Justin Kelly

Edenderry

Co Offaly