Is Lenihan drunk on his own power? Youth wing opposition

[jjcarroll]

Two youth wings have today responded to Minister Lenihan's recent proposals on alcohol consumption.

YFG President Barry Walsh said: "Brian Lenihan's ridiculous suggestion today that the drinking age could be raised to 21 marks a new peak in the ongoing 'nanny-state' campaign by the Government to curtail citizen's rights to drink.

"This quick-fix solution is typical of a tired Government which is completely out of touch with reality on the ground, especially among young people.

"YFG is opposed to drip-feed prohibitionist measures which Fianna Fáil have been proposing in recent years. We respect people's freedom to socialise and drink as they wish, as long as they don't over step the mark. Responsible young people between the age of 18 and 21 should not be scape-goated because of the actions of a small minority who choose to abuse alcohol.

"In order to truly curb alcohol abuse in this country our leaders will have to accept the fact that the best way forward is through fostering a culture of responsibility among Irish drinkers. Trying to shelter people from alcohol simply will not work.

See http://www.yfg.ie/ for more

This view was somewhat echoed on Matt Cooper by a Young Greens spokesperson who highlighted that this was the tenth time since FF took power in '97 that a minister had delegated responsibility on this issue to a committee of some shape or make.

This is fleshed out more on their website here:

http://www.younggreens.ie/

[The Collective.]

Funnily enough, I was going to ring barry about his opinon on this. Protest anyone?

[qtman]

Two youth wings have today responded to Minister Lenihan's recent proposals on alcohol consumption.

YFG President Barry Walsh said: "Brian Lenihan's ridiculous suggestion today that the drinking age could be raised to 21 marks a new peak in the ongoing 'nanny-state' campaign by the Government to curtail citizen's rights to drink.

"This quick-fix solution is typical of a tired Government which is completely out of touch with reality on the ground, especially among young people.

"YFG is opposed to drip-feed prohibitionist measures which Fianna Fáil have been proposing in recent years. We respect people's freedom to socialise and drink as they wish, as long as they don't over step the mark. Responsible young people between the age of 18 and 21 should not be scape-goated because of the actions of a small minority who choose to abuse alcohol.

"In order to truly curb alcohol abuse in this country our leaders will have to accept the fact that the best way forward is through fostering a culture of responsibility among Irish drinkers. Trying to shelter people from alcohol simply will not work.

See http://www.yfg.ie/ for more

This view was somewhat echoed on Matt Cooper by a Young Greens spokesperson who highlighted that this was the tenth time since FF took power in '97 that a minister had delegated responsibility on this issue to a committee of some shape or make.

This is fleshed out more on their website here:

http://www.younggreens.ie/

He's probably right, although I'm sure how you 'foster a culture of responsibility'. You can't expect teenagers not to drink when adults make such a big deal out of it.

[Auditor #9]

from the left: Riadach; qtman; Eddiepops; pidge; certain_people; Pluralist; gombeen; erigena ...

http://www.younggreens.ie/

[Catalpa]

from the left: Riadach; qtman; Eddiepops; pidge; certain_people; Pluralist; gombeen; erigena ...

http://www.younggreens.ie/

Why is Pidge dressed up as a Cone?

[PaintingMedium]

from the left: Riadach; qtman; Eddiepops; pidge; certain_people; Pluralist; gombeen; erigena ...

http://www.younggreens.ie/

Is that a token black in the middle?
Wait a second, is he even real?
Do you guys have a fake token black guy?

[Trampas]

from the left: Riadach; qtman; Eddiepops; pidge; certain_people; Pluralist; gombeen; erigena ...

http://www.younggreens.ie/

Is that a token black in the middle?
Wait a second, is he even real?
Do you guys have a fake token black guy?

Nah - it's just the Irish Times photographer.

Black people to the front please.

[PaintingMedium]

from the left: Riadach; qtman; Eddiepops; pidge; certain_people; Pluralist; gombeen; erigena ...

http://www.younggreens.ie/

Is that a token black in the middle?
Wait a second, is he even real?
Do you guys have a fake token black guy?

Nah - it's just the Irish Times photographer.

Black people to the front please.

But he is not real, and it looks like they are shoving a giant ice cream cone into him.

Young green bastards!

[PaintingMedium]

might be a cornetto!

[speaker81]

Surely the best way to protest against this is for the various Youth wings of the opposition parties (and the Young Greens, who presumably haven't been told about the sell-out and still think they are in opposition) to get together on the steps of the Dept of Justice at lunchtime and get drunk on cider. It'd make a great picture.