Drink and Drugs - A National Epidemic?

[Bob Dylan]

Community Activist
Ógra Shinn Féin

Recognising the huge burden that drugs and alcohol misuse presents to the Irish people, progressive community based activists need a campaign to tackle the issue head on in attempting to curb this growing problem.

Drugs and alcohol misuse is a social ill that we all need to understand, raise awareness about and implement practical actions that can address the current problem and help prevent the epidemic for future generations.

For full discussion piece:

http://******************************************************************************.blogspot.com/2007/ ... demic.html

[johnfás]

Is capitalism really the problem as the image on the discussion suggests? Alcohol misuse was a contributing factor in the implosion of the Soviet Union! I do think increased materialism plays a large part though. The breakdown of respect for older generations and a general breakdown in the community also have a large part to play, as do a lack of organised groups for young people, or the low attendence thereof. People constantly harp on about facilities need to be provided but one must ask the question of what sort of facilities do we need. Often an area might lobby for some facilities, get a bowling alley with a carpark which then becomes a breeding ground for anti social behaviour. The type of facility provided for the young is as important as the facility itself.

[DAOINE]

Yes agreed with JohnFas you cant blame capitalism but you can blame the hedonism that seems to be accepted as normal. A psychologist friend of mine blames the pressure on people in society ie the more pressure you are on at work the more alcohol you need to unwind. This of course doesnt explain all the wine being drunk by people with too much leisure time. I have never been into narcotics and dont really understand the attraction of snorting a white powder that could be mixed with anything. Personally I used to drink alot. To remedy this I stopped drinking completely a year ago. I feel much better for it. If there was a way to market not drinking as cool it might work. I dont see the PIONEER AND TOTAL ABSTINENCE gang being much help.

[Rebel CNC]

This country has always had a problem with alcohol. It is more of a problem today because with increased wealth, young people have the spending power to indulge the habit to a degree not previously possible.

Raising the age at which you can buy drink from 18 to 21 may help matters.

[johnfás]

This country has always had a problem with alcohol. It is more of a problem today because with increased wealth, young people have the spending power to indulge the habit to a degree not previously possible.

Raising the age at which you can buy drink from 18 to 21 may help matters.

I'm in two minds on this one. On the one hand I see young teens, the siblings of friends and so on, who are drinking aged 14 and think that raising the age would make no difference as these people are very underage and drinking anyway. On the other hand I think that the raising of the smoking regulation from 16 to 18 did actually make a difference. But there again it's possible that this resulted from a general social move towards a greater disdain for smoking than actually raising the age.

[qtman]

OSF do actually run some very good campaigns, but the references to socialism capitalism etc and pictures of members wearing "I still hate Thatcher" t-shirts tend to undermine their credibility.

They'd need to decide whether or not they are actually concerned about the issues they've talking about or if they are using them as a vehicle to advance some other agenda.

[locke]

Eighteen year olds are adults. We let them do things, such as drive cars, which are much more dangerous to themselves and others than drinking is. Most do not display problem behaviour after drinking. What right do we have to take away their right to drink?

Perhaps, the answer is not to outlaw drinking, but to stop alcohol being something that's discovered in a field, park, disused quarry etc. with friends at the age of fourteen. Would people getting their first experiences of drink in family or with more mature adults help the situation?

Anyway, regardless of personal rights, increasing the age to 21 would never happen. The VFI would tell Fianna Fail that it wasn't going to happen and they'd back down.

[PatMcL]

OSF do actually run some very good campaigns, but the references to socialism capitalism etc and pictures of members wearing "I still hate Thatcher" t-shirts tend to undermine their credibility.

They'd need to decide whether or not they are actually concerned about the issues they've talking about or if they are using them as a vehicle to advance some other agenda.

A nonsense post, how does wearing a t-shirt bearing testament to hating that old scroat undermine anything? Either the campaign is worthwhile and stands on its merits or it does not.
The fact that they are running a campaign on the issue is perhaps an indicator that they are concerned about it. Believe it or not people connected to poltical parties do take part in certain campaigns in an effort to profile that party and their policies, so maybe that falls under advancing some other agenda.

[Dublinguy]

There are a number of problems that cause the problem we have with regards to drugs/alcohol...

1 - An Irish disregard for the law and an ability to use any excuse to get away with breaking it....simple touch ENFORCED measures should be employed.....
A - Caught drink driving or driving on drugs you LOSE your licence immediately and have to resit test to gain it back. Assuming no injuries or damage is done then a couple of hundred hours community service (cleaning streets/rivers etc)
B - The same should apply with regards community service for anyone caught in possession of drugs for personal use in public or being drunk and disorderly

2 - A total change in the culture about accessing alcohol....Children should be allowed and encouraged to start their drinking at home/in the pub with parents from about 14 years and upwards....This is the continental way and breeds and element of trust and respect for alcohol...Children getting drunk in the company of parents in the pubs then the parents/pub should be fined and the parents again forced to do community service.

3 - Any off-licence found serving alcohol to children under 18 should be closed for a week (unless they can prove the child used a passport as ID).

4 - Any children found drinking in public should have their drink confiscated and again community service is the order of the day.

5 - Anyone caught trafficing drugs or selling drugs should be punished - small scale sellers should be made do long term community service during hourse likely to be selling drugs (if caught again it is prison) - they should also be stripped of any money made by selling drugs...Large scale sellers should be stripped of all assets that they can't prove were paid for legitiimately this includes family property etc....they should then receive 10-15 year sentences with no chance of remission

[Munion]

How about if all alcohol sales could only take place in government run off-licences and you could only purchase alcohol if you had an alcohol purchasing card. Cards would only be given to adults and would be withdrawn if those adults were found to be suffering the effects of alcoholism or abusing their card buy purchasing for minors.

The amount of alcohol each person bought could be monitored to ensure that they were not buying excessive amounts or were buying too regularly (eg. every day).