Sobering thought

The drinks’ companies and their ‘Drinkaware.ie’ rubbish might be a little credible if they sought not to distance themselves from the horrendous damage alcohol wreaks in Irish society.

If they got their advertisements to declare — “enjoy our drug sensibly” — we might begin to feel they are getting the message that Ireland is sinking in a sea of alcohol addiction.

But they won’t, and the delusion that it is weak people who are to blame, and alcohol plays no part in their downfall because of it, will continue.