Shock tactics may be the only answer

Any proposed shock tactics that would effectively curb the horrendous consequences of alcohol abuse must be given some consideration.

As Minister of State Noel Ahern, who has responsibility for community affairs and the National Drugs Strategy, has pointed out, the softly softly approach simply has not worked.

Despite countless expensive campaigns to educate people on the dangers of alcohol abuse, the problem continues to permeate all levels of society with deadly results.

Apart from the toll it exacts in terms of human misery and the break-up of numerous families, the annual drain in health and other costs is huge at €2.2 billion.

Behind the cold statistics are the stories of hardship and ill-health suffered by the country’s 100,000 alcoholics and their families. That figure can be quadrupled when considering the number of people affected by alcoholism, who have to bear the brunt of the fallout from the disease, from family members to workmates.

The shock tactics urged by Mr Ahern include a sales levy on drinks companies to subvent the cost of treating the affects of the addiction.

He suggested parents should also bear a direct responsibility for costs incurred in the treatment of self-induced injuries, including visits to accident and emergency units.

Although Mr Ahern, who was addressing a conference organised by the South Kerry Development Partnership, is not in a position through his own ministerial office to introduce such measures, he pledged his support should the Government decide to do so.

A major problem is that there is too high a tolerance in this country for alcohol and too little serious will, either from a political or social perspective, to introduce effective measures to combat its abuse.

Alcohol has never been more available since the licensing laws were amended to allow for longer opening hours at weekends and even now serious consideration is being given to extending them even further.

However, there is also a momentum in the country to arrest the abuse of alcohol and its consequences, from public order offences, to under-age drinking and the detrimental affect on family life.