We Irish are a nation of piss-heads.
First a few facts.
We Irish top the European binge-drinking league by a country mile.
Drinking per capita has increased 17% from 1995 to 2006.
In 2003, it was reported that chronic liver disease and cirrhosis was the cause of death of half a million Irish people.
Alcohol is a factor in one in three deaths on Irish roads.
Over one in four of all injury attendances in the accident and emergency departments are alcohol related.
Enough for ya?
As I was saying: We Irish are a nation of piss-heads.
So, guess who Irish Government relies on to convince the nation that we are drinking too much?
Screwed up, isn’t it?
Passive Impressions 
I have to say, every person I’ve so far met over here in Australia who has been extremely drunk (beyond slurring their words, I’m talking about unconscious in the street) have been irish and younger than 30.
Why is it such a problem, do you think?
Hi Truce, I am not surprised.
It’s a problem because nobody really sees it to be a problem. The whole culture, right from the very top, tolerates it. There is no societal escape valve like there might be in other countries. Going out for a good night equals getting drunk. It’s as plain as day. The lonely voices who say enough are branded as killjoys and by and large ignored.
But the pain is there, believe you me. Ask any doctor, or social worker, or priest, or whatever you are having yourself. And in a few years time, when the 90’s party generation starts to take on a bit more responsibility for their lives, it will be a fucking nightmare.
You should see the excuses for anti-drinking ads on Irish TV over the last few years. They are a joke. And why would they be otherwise? The turkeys ain’t voting for Christmas. That’s why.
I think I’ll be blogging a bit more about this over the coming days…
I live in the midst of the Vodka Belt.
The traditional way of drinking here in the Far North has been “drink ’til you drop” at Saturdays and at other occasions when you were no supposed to work the next day. Hangovers were sort of “manly”. Female drinking was not socially acceptable of course.
Some forty years ago vacations abroad started to become more affordable for common people. The continental way of drinking, wine with meals etc. became more of a habit – added to the binge drinking.
I sometimes fear we’re getting a nation of drunks.
I quit drinking 2½ years ago, which makes me sort of a social outcast. Some people seem to think that serving anything non-alcoholic is a pain in the ass so it’s easier to avoid such troublesome guests.
Looks like the lady in the picture is well-dressed but let the evening get away from here.
In the U.S. the stereotype is that the Native Americans and those of Irish descent are most like to suffer drinking problems.
Probably it’s genetic, like freckles and green eyes
Phred (of Irish descent).
Ireland should borrow some of the anti-drinking ads from here, then, they’re brutal. 😉
COlm I agree completely with you on this, I hate to see people get so drunk that they don’t know what they are doing. They are really taking their lives in their hands both for that night til they get home hopefully) safely and for the future when the effects of such voluminous drinking hits their bodies.
I wrote a post similar (but quite as articulate!) as this one over on The Blog Pound recently, you might find it and the comments to it, interesting:)
http://theblogpound.wordpress.com/2008/10/14/beer-the-answer-to-everything/
Now, you guys know that the Irish are also very good at yoga …
I blame the weather.