Alcohol abuse - Glitzy campaigns not working

The Prime Time television programme documenting the attitude of young people towards alcohol and drugs has underlined the continuing and grave problem which Irish society must acknowledge if the inevitable consequences are to be avoided.

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) concurs with the contents of the programme, which showed that alcohol and drugs are now one of the biggest issues facing young people in this country.

Critically, it believes that young peoples’ attitudes and behaviour in regards to alcohol and drugs mirror broader society’s attitudes and behaviour. In other words, tolerance of such drugs by their elders encourages them to imitate what they perceive as acceptable norms.