Ireland's alcohol problems

darkman2

Lets face it - this country is alcoholic. No matter what way you dress it up we have a big problem. So how do we deal with it? I think its time to get tough tbh. We cannot continue like this because ultimately our country will be destroyed by alcoholism.


You might not think so but look at the youth of today and it makes you fear for the future. People will say I am over reacting - I am not. Our young teenagers are our future and tbh, right now, its a future I would rather not be appart of.


What do you think?


P.S Not saying we are the worst alcos in Europe but tbh we are.........

rubadub

darkman2 wrote: »

ultimately our country will be destroyed by alcoholism.

What do you mean by "destroyed"?

People have been drinking a long time, and the country is not in ruins, or do you think it is?

darkman2

rubadub wrote: »

and the country is not in ruins, or do you think it is?

Not yet but its coming;)

Affable

darkman2 wrote: »

P.S Not saying we are the worst alcos in Europe but tbh we are.........

Brits drink a hell of a lot. And the Americans do also I think. TBH doubt it's that much worse in Ireland.

darkman2

Affable wrote: »

Brits drink a hell of a lot. And the Americans do also I think. TBH doubt it's that much worse in Ireland.

OK if it were true - is that an excuse? Drink will destroy their country too as they are finding out now.

Gavin "shels"

It's a bit harsh saying "destroyed by alcoholism" our economy up until recently was booming, East Europeans are flocking here.

As for the teenagers, I can comment as a 17 year old, I like the odd few cans with my mates in my mates shed. I often get stopped by Gardai when really they should be going after the hundred of teenagers who are roaming the streets pi*sed drunk causing trouble and damage.

slipss

darkman2 wrote: »

ultimately our country will be destroyed by alcoholism.

Well we seem to have lasted a couple of thousand years, thats reasonable in terms of being a country of alcoholics. It seems to me that the system is working. You know, if its not broke don't fix it. Theres plenty of other civilisations that didn't last this long (....ehh probably). Ce sera sera and all that. Ehhh **** off. Maybe alcohol is the only thing keeping the country goin, ever consider that?.....No, of course you didn't, because that is just stupid. Either way, have a drink will ye? It will all take care of itself in the end.

Chinafoot

darkman2 wrote: »

P.S Not saying we are the worst alcos in Europe but tbh we are.........

Well which is it? Either you're saying we're the worst "alcos" in Europe or you're saying we are?

Personally I think the laws in this country regarding alcohol need to be relaxed, not tightened. Cutting down on drinking hours means a lot of people at the end of the night are trying to get as much drink into them as possible before everyone is shoved out the door at the same time. This contributes greatly to post-pub/club violence.

Your post is over-dramatic scaremongering rubbish that is being touted constantly by these anti-drinking lobby groups. But lets face it, the government makes too much cash from drink so there's no chance much changing.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

we should legalise weed

Sparky

Tbh I think the brits are worse.

Chinafoot, pass us a can there will ya?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

slipss wrote: »

Well we seem to have lasted a couple of thousand years, thats reasonable in terms of being a country of alcoholics. It seems to me that the system is working. You know, if its not broke don't fix it. Theres plenty of other civilisations that didn't last this long (....ehh probably). Ce sera sera and all that. Ehhh **** off. Maybe alcohol is the only thing keeping the country goin, ever consider that?.....No, of course you didn't, because that is just stupid. Either way, have a drink will ye? It will all take care of itself in the end.

Eh... who's point are you making here?

Gavin "shels"

Mordeth wrote: »

we should legalise weed

Here, here.;)

darkman2

Chinafoot wrote: »

a lot of people at the end of the night are trying to get as much drink into them as possible

And.....eh........you see nothing deficient about that?

Chinafoot

darkman2 wrote: »

And.....eh........you see nothing deficient about that?

Did I suggest that *everyone* does it? I don't believe I did. And I also don't believe that those who do are all scumbag alcoholics either.

YOu will get this kind of behaviour everywhere from some people if a pub is being closed before 2am, not just in Ireland. Personally I believe that there should be 24 hour bars in this country. This last-ditch "must have more" won't happen if there is no restriction on time, and the violence that happens when everyone is herded like cattle outside at the same time won't be an issue either.

Dave!

darkman2 wrote: »

OK if it were true - is that an excuse? Drink will destroy their country too as they are finding out now.

huh? America's recession is caused by booze?

sidneykidney

FO tbh we are far from the worst,ireland is in an upward spiral and if you dont think that,well look on the streets,its happening since the "celtic tiger" if you cant accept that then dont. but imho americanism=ireland right now

rediguana

As someone who drinks a multiple of health professionals' maximum number of units per week, I shouldn't really be agreeing (somewhat) with the, admittedly crazy, OP, but still...

I manage an off-licence and it'd break your heart to see the beautiful young girls coming in three and four nights a week buying one euro beers and vodka and marlborough lights.They're having their time in the sun now but it's all downhill in a couple of years.

I don't want to fall into the usual trap of claiming that this generation is the worst ever and is going straight to hell, but there does seem to be a lot of chaos these days - violence, stupid prices, Godlessness (even though I'm as Godless as anyone)...

Crazy boozing is tolerated too much in this country.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

as it should be, they can do whatever they want to themselves.

plus, if you think about it.. when they are 35 and ****ed up from their years of hedonism they'll act as a lovely example to their children of why to err on the side of sobriety.

Agamemnon

*staggers into thread, punches a few posters, pisses on the floor and passes out in a puddle of his own bloody vomit*

sidneykidney

Ok as a barman i see the problem before me every night of the week,does that mean i stop them,i have and what do i get in return,abuse thats what, so in ireland its easier to put up and shut up. Sorry but thats the way it is.....

Affable

darkman2 wrote: »

OK if it were true - is that an excuse? Drink will destroy their country too as they are finding out now.

It may not be as bad as you think. People have said crime is bad in Dublin/Ireland but the stats don't show it to be bad compared to the US and other parts of Europe, for example. It's just that poorer areas of any place will have these problems to some degree inevitably.

rediguana

My heart is broken, thinking about those nubile, drunk, young girls stumbling off to house parties in Blackrock and Sandycove, cheap white spirits a-go-go, and me selling them booze instead of plying them with it.

sidneykidney

Well you just think about them because there tomorrow is your today

flanum

sidneykidney wrote: »

Ok as a barman i see the problem before me every night of the week,does that mean i stop them,i have and what do i get in return,abuse thats what, so in ireland its easier to put up and shut up. Sorry but thats the way it is.....

your a feckin drinkers labourer ffs! its what you do for a living! you sell alcoholic drinks to drinkers! now shut up and put on another pint on for me!
if ye dont like servin drinks in a pub to p[eople that want to buy drinks, may i suggest a career change!!!

monkeyfudge

Ireland's main alcohol problem is the fact that I wasn't allowed to buy any on Friday.

phantom_lord

op is talking nonesense imo. idk anyone with an alco problem.

flanum

flanum wrote: »

your a feckin drinkers labourer ffs! its what you do for a living! you sell alcoholic drinks to drinkers! now shut up and put on another pint on for me!
if ye dont like servin drinks in a pub to p[eople that want to buy drinks, may i suggest a career change!!!

and while your at it get me twenty bensons. oh and somebody **** on the floor in the jacks, clean it up man will ya!

flanum

phantom_lord wrote: »

op is talking nonesense imo. idk anyone with an alco problem.

i have alco problems.

running out of cans/mixers etc after closin times... big problem.

running out of fags at silly oclock while talking/typing about alcohol.. problem.

Parsley

rediguana wrote: »

I don't want to fall into the usual trap of claiming that this generation is the worst ever and is going straight to hell, but there does seem to be a lot of chaos these days - violence, stupid prices, Godlessness (even though I'm as Godless as anyone)...

That's a good thing, tbh. :pac:

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

phantom_lord wrote: »

op is talking nonesense imo. idk anyone with an alco problem.

I know! And the weather's never bad, the public transport is beyond reproach, we have the best health care system in Western Europe... what are people talking baout?

ec18

Just Curious how would you stop this Porblem?...ban drink? increase the drinking age?....anyone who suggests it will be lynched.....and increasing the drinking age not really going to help

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

don't give the impression to teenages that alcohol is something cool that only adults can do, because teens love to think of themselves as adults without the technicality of legality and will themselves do whatever they think adults are entitled to.

Allow them the odd glass of wine with dinner, and to come to terms with alcohol and it's effects in a family setting as opposed to a field or a crowded meat market.

for the adults, stop legislating against law abiding decent people because of the actions of a rowdy minority. 24 hour pubs, or at the very least staggered closing times. This would stop thousands of drunks pouring out en masse at the exact same time onto the same small pieces of real estate. It wouldn't do much to affect the culture of drink, but it would reduce considerably the rowdiness common to us all at weekends wherever in the country.


do people have to pay for having their stomachs pumped? They really should.. for any drug related illness tbh, if this is something you have done to yourself there is no reason to expect everybody else to pay for it. you break it, you bought it.

RoundyMooney

Well said, Mordy.

The Mighty Ken

Chinafoot wrote: »

Your post is over-dramatic scaremongering rubbish that is being touted constantly by these anti-drinking lobby groups.

+1

To be honest, the problem with Ireland is people like the OP getting on their high horse. You want to create a country of drunk, drugged-up sociopaths then by all means "get tough" on alcohol consumption. Because as we all know, telling people what to do and restricting their decisions with draconian measures coupled with your own egotistical sense of moral outrage always commands respect. Have a nice day.

Hogmeister B

Mordeth wrote: »

do people have to pay for having their stomachs pumped? They really should.. for any drug related illness tbh, if this is something you have done to yourself there is no reason to expect everybody else to pay for it. you break it, you bought it.

While I agree with your other points completely, this one's a bit dodgy. If you pay your taxes you get medical treatment, no questions asked- you've already paid for it, why should you do so again? Should people who have attempted suicide have to pay afresh for their treatment? What about people who drive or cross the road recklessly? Fat people?

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

i dunno really, I just threw that one in because it sounded good to me.. maybe some form of drug takers insurance? You pay a higher premium the more you do.. I'm sure people who go base jumping or sky diving have to buy special insurance.. people who drive have to buy special insurance, so there's a kind of precedent there.

faceman

Some good points Mordeth. Never knew you had it in you!

You only have to go into A&E, attend an AA meeting or visit a rehab clinic to see the extent, cost and damage alcohol has done in ireland. Its not all aul fellas and divorced women. In fact younger "normal looking" people are making up the numbers.

And its costing the "decent folk" in the pocket.

ec18

Mordeth wrote: »

don't give the impression to teenages that alcohol is something cool that only adults can do, because teens love to think of themselves as adults without the technicality of legality and will themselves do whatever they think adults are entitled to.

Allow them the odd glass of wine with dinner, and to come to terms with alcohol and it's effects in a family setting as opposed to a field or a crowded meat market.

for the adults, stop legislating against law abiding decent people because of the actions of a rowdy minority. 24 hour pubs, or at the very least staggered closing times. This would stop thousands of drunks pouring out en masse at the exact same time onto the same small pieces of real estate. It wouldn't do much to affect the culture of drink, but it would reduce considerably the rowdiness common to us all at weekends wherever in the country.


do people have to pay for having their stomachs pumped? They really should.. for any drug related illness tbh, if this is something you have done to yourself there is no reason to expect everybody else to pay for it. you break it, you bought it.

+1

FlutterinBantam

Despite plenty of posts nobody has put their finger on the problem- ATTITUDE!!

Thats the problem "attitude to drink in ireland"

Most other countries drink to enjoy themselves usually drinking bottles and drinking slower.

paddy rolls into the pub,sets himself up, spreads the legs and tonks down the pints till he is either

A.. asked to leave at closing time-whatever that is
B.. has run out of money
C.. collapses on the floor in a drunken heap
D..Is so full of drink that it is physically impossible to take in any more.


As long as the dude or dudess who can lower more drink than anyone else has a standing in social life, then its a poor outlook I'm afraid.

We need to learn how to enjoy drink properly,otherwise i agree totally with the OP

faceman

You only have to read the Good Friday threads to see the attitude in action!

People only want to drink on the day because they cant!!! :rolleyes:

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

of course, that's bloody human nature. it's one of the very good reasons prohibition is a stupid, stupid idea.. even when it's only enforced for one day out of the year.

well, two.. three?

is_that_so

Mordeth wrote: »

don't give the impression to teenages that alcohol is something cool that only adults can do, because teens love to think of themselves as adults without the technicality of legality and will themselves do whatever they think adults are entitled to.

Allow them the odd glass of wine with dinner, and to come to terms with alcohol and it's effects in a family setting as opposed to a field or a crowded meat market.

for the adults, stop legislating against law abiding decent people because of the actions of a rowdy minority. 24 hour pubs, or at the very least staggered closing times. This would stop thousands of drunks pouring out en masse at the exact same time onto the same small pieces of real estate. It wouldn't do much to affect the culture of drink, but it would reduce considerably the rowdiness common to us all at weekends wherever in the country.


do people have to pay for having their stomachs pumped? They really should.. for any drug related illness tbh, if this is something you have done to yourself there is no reason to expect everybody else to pay for it. you break it, you bought it.

I was told that the Mater , at one point, refused to treat people unless they agreed to go to AA. Very strongly in favour of charging people.

Not sure about the 24 hour pubs. In other countries maybe but there is still such bravado associated with being able to drink a lot here, it might exacerbate the problem.

flanum wrote: »

i have alco problems.

running out of cans/mixers etc after closin times... big problem.

running out of fags at silly oclock while talking/typing about alcohol.. problem.

yes I had a close relative who used to say the same thing. He's dead now - alcohol abuse killed him.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

while I'd be in favour of rehabilitation programs for abusers, or self-help groups... AA is a dirty, dirty little organisation. It's basically the catholic church, but without a pope.

faceman

Mordeth wrote: »

AA is a dirty, dirty little organisation. It's basically the catholic church, but without a pope.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

it's a cult. they tell the drug abusers that they basically have no power over themselves or their decisions, that there is just something "wrong" with them. You can't progress without giving yourself up to a higher power and admitting that you can't fix yourself only they can. They don't come out and say 'god', hey it could be a rock or a tree.. but it's pretty damn obvious that they mean god and it's pretty clear too who's god they mean.

There is nothing whatsoever scientific about it, no research or growth.. just god, self loathing and more god.

faceman

Mordeth wrote: »

it's a cult. they tell the drug abusers that they basically have no power over themselves or their decisions, that there is just something "wrong" with them. You can't progress without giving yourself up to a higher power and admitting that you can't fix yourself only they can. They don't come out and say 'god', hey it could be a rock or a tree.. but it's pretty damn obvious that they mean god and it's pretty clear too who's god they mean.

There is nothing whatsoever scientific about it, no research or growth.. just god, self loathing and more god.

Sorry mordeth, you are way off the mark on this one. Thats all completely untrue and nonsense. What are you basing that on?

Also they dont treat drug users.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

not AA, but cocaine anonymous, gambling anonymous, masturbation anonymous, anonymous anonymous.


--edit

# We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
# Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
# Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
# Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
# Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
# Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
# Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
# Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
# Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
# Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
# Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His Will for us and the power to carry that out.
# Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs



well, looks like they do mentioned god outright. not just god either, but God.. capital G. Sounds like they know him personally.

Davidius

Yeah I think South Park's a good show too.

Dudess

slipss wrote: »

Ehhh **** off. Maybe alcohol is the only thing keeping the country goin, ever consider that?.....No, of course you didn't, because that is just stupid.

Keep it civil please.

rediguana wrote: »

I manage an off-licence and it'd break your heart to see the beautiful young girls coming in three and four nights a week buying one euro beers and vodka and marlborough lights.They're having their time in the sun now but it's all downhill in a couple of years.

That's rather condescending. Why doesn't it break your heart to see young boys coming in and blowing their money on fags and cheap booze? And maybe it's not all downhill in a couple of years for those girls? What about men losing their looks from too much booze and fags? Oh... wait. It's only females that get judged on losing their looks and ageing.

I don't want to fall into the usual trap of claiming that this generation is the worst ever and is going straight to hell, but there does seem to be a lot of chaos these days - violence, stupid prices, Godlessness (even though I'm as Godless as anyone)...

Crazy boozing is tolerated too much in this country.

Alcoholism has always been a serious problem in this country - even when we weren't "godless".

faceman wrote: »

You only have to read the Good Friday threads to see the attitude in action!

People only want to drink on the day because they cant!!! :rolleyes:

Bull. People want to drink because it's a Friday - the start of the weekend. Friday is a very popular night for going out. If the feast was on a Monday and people were moaning that they couldn't buy drink or go to the pub, then yes, I'd agree with you.

OP, your statement is rather sweeping and needs a bit of backing up. At the same time though, there is a fairly scary culture of binge-drinking - but then, when have people ever shown restraint when it comes to drinking? And remember that people grow out of all this boozing madness. A couple with young kids will be lucky if they manage a couple of glasses of wine a week, a person in their 20s working full-time and paying a mortgage can only afford to go out one night a week etc.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

Davidius wrote: »

Yeah I think South Park's a good show too.

was bull**** actually that started me looking online about AA.


what tv show did I get my opinion about 24 hour drinking from?

Neamhshuntasach

Ireland has a drink culture. Plain and simple. We're not alcoholics. People binge drink because they were raised seeing people binge drinking. So we developed a different attitude towards alcohol than most other countries. Having lived in the states while at college and traveled most of the world you can really see the difference in our attitudes towards drink. People in most other countries go out to enjoy a beer after work or maybe to watch some sporting event on tv or just catch up with mates. Then they go home. Over here we go out to get hammered. I'm not saying every Irish person thinks that way but it appears to be an awful lot. The only way to change our fondness of the drink in this country is to adults and teens to reduce it so the next generation aren't brought up to emulate us. But that ain't gonna happen to we'll long be a nation of scoopers.