Bishops’ Drug and Alcohol InitiativeDVD LAUNCH: “FIND THE BALANCE, DARE TO DREAM”
Speaking notes of
Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin
Archbishop of Dublin, Primate of Ireland
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Tallaght Community School, 15th November 2007
Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin
Archbishop of Dublin, Primate of Ireland
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Tallaght Community School, 15th November 2007
I think that it is finally dawning on Irish society that we have an alcohol problem. Yes, we always knew that there were people who had alcohol problems. What is dawning on us now is that we have a national alcohol problem, an alcohol problem deeply imbedded in parts of our Irish culture. Alcohol abuse is not someone else’s problem; it is a national problem, a problem for us all.
There is a double standard in our society about alcohol. Unruly drunkenness is looked down upon. But for some excessive alcohol consumption is respectable, just as cocaine consumption for some seems to be fashionable. We convince ourselves that there are unfortunate alcoholics who are sick; then there are the other drinkers that do not really have a problem. They may yes be heavy drinkers on occasion, they who go occasionally or even more often beyond their limit; if this happens at some form of “celebration”, they may even boast about it. Is such drinking problem drinking? All we have to do is to look at the overall consequences of our drinking habits on public health, on our own health, on the cost to the health service.
It is good to be reminded of just how deep rooted this national alcohol problem is. OECD figures published recently confirm, again, that Irish drinking levels are spiralling… we are now second only to Luxembourg in our consumption of alcohol. A global study undertaken by the WHO on Alcohol put Irish under 20 years olds at the highest point on the scale when comparing binge drinking across countries. There are national statistics which note a 90% increase in alcohol related diseases in past 10 years.
Dublin Diocesan Teen Counselling in their annual report published earlier this year noted how, on the advice of young people themselves, the service had to revise its questionnaire about drink. In a question to teenagers “How often have you felt drunk”? a range of answers from “never” to “9-10 times” had to be revised two years ago to include “11-15 times”; “16-20 times” and “more”.
They also had to add in questions for young teenagers asking them if they had ever drunk so much that they 1, got sick; 2, passed out and 3, had to be hospitalised. They were questioning people from 13 years upwards.
Their findings for last year included the following
- 78% of those who had taken drink reported having been drunk, some before leaving national school; with the 13-15 years period the most significant for starting to drink and get drunk.
- 29% of those who said they had been drunk, were drunk more than 20 times.
- 21% had drunk until they passed out.
- 8% were admitted to hospital
These are not statistics of which we can be proud. Where are the roots of our drinking problem? Why are we different from other Europeans? I am not going to address that question today. What is important today is to affirm together that these statistics have to be overcome. We have to break this cycle of destruction on our society. We have to become clear on the fact that alcohol makes you happy for a deceptive, very brief moment. The hangover of alcohol is not just yours, it brings suffering and misery to many others. It is only when we break this cycle of destruction on our society that we will be a much happier society.
Society has become far too tolerant of behaviours and attitudes to alcohol misuse. The DVD we are launching today is a call to young people to recognise that they have the talents and the strengths to make choices regarding the moderate use of alcohol. What you do can have a ripple effect in families, schools and communities. Teenagers can provide the answers to change, however change must start with oneself. Young people can inspire adults to change and this happens daily. The attitude of young people has shaped their parents views and the views of society on smoking or on the protection of the environment.
The DVD we are launching today contains interviews with young people about drinking and their drinking habits Many of the young people interviewed reflect on the damage that drink has done to their own friends. Every young person has personal experience of the harm done to friends through drink. This DVD challenges young people not jus to find themselves in the situation of having to pick and carry home a friend who is drunk, but to sustain each other so that no one falls into the trap of alcohol abuse.
Alcohol abuse is not cool. If you think it is then you are not cool, you are a fool. Rather you are letting yourself be fooled.
Alcohol abuse is not cool. If you think it is then you are not cool, you are a fool. Rather you are letting yourself be fooled.
I am delighted that this DVD is being launched here today by Archbishop Sean Brady, President of the Irish Episcopal Conference, who as you know will be created Cardinal next week by Pope Benedict XVI. I am very pleased to have this occasion of your first visit to Dublin since the Pope’s announcement to offer you the congratulations, prayers and best wishes of everyone here today, as well as of the entire community of the Archdiocese of Dublin.
Archbishop Brady is a quiet person. He is a man who listens and is attentive to building up consensus and cooperation. He has done that in a remarkable way in the peace process in Northern Ireland. He has done it in the Irish Church. We are blessed to have him and may the Lord give him long years.
At the same time I would like to say a special word of appreciation to Bishop Eamonn Walsh, my Auxiliary and friend, who has does such great work, day in day, out especially here in Tallaght. I do not know where he gets his energy from. As Archbishop of Dublin I am very fortunate in having such a close and loyal collaborator.
I now have the honour to introduce our guest of honour, Archbishop Sean Brady, and to ask him to formally launch the DVD: “Find the Balance: Dare to Dream”.
