Ireland's Drinking Problem

jester77

leggo wrote: »

Yeah cus go out any night in Paris, Munich, Milan etc and you'll see women puking on every street corner, lads beating the ****e out of each other over some crackhead looking young wan and Abra Kebabra becoming a more hazardous working environment than Libya or Iraq.

Don't even get me started about the trauma suffered due to my experience on the French late night bus service, 'Le Nitelink'.

But no, we're grand, sure it's all a bitta craic isn't it?!

Plenty of fights/puking to be had in any city, you're just not as likely to see them. Unlike Ireland bars are open all night so you won't have everyone on the street at the same time where you can witness the mad burger dash and taxi rank rows. On the continent you would more likely be still in the pub if a fight was happening.

Snickers Man

starbelgrade wrote: »

The EU commissioned a report in 2006 on European drinking habits & while it found that we drink less than a lot of countries on a daily basis, that when we do drink, we drink substantially more than our European counterparts.

Link: http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_272b_en.pdf

Very very interesting.

Now what you need to do is transfer that on to a branding iron and then imprint it firmly on the head of those idiots, particularly in the leader-writing section of the Irish Times, who suggest that price is the only controlling mechanism that can be used to alleviate our alcohol abuse problem.

The more expensive a country's alcohol; the greater the reputation as a nation of binge drinkers.

Ireland, Britain, Sweden, Poland

Why can nobody in a position of influence see this simple correlation?????

Wattle

Shattered Dreamer wrote: »

I'm really beginning to get sick of this whole anti-Irish sentiment when it comes to alcohol. I feel sorry for anybody who's life has been damaged from the effects of alcohol but sorry stop trying to ruin it for the rest of us by say every Irish person is a god damn alcohol because these cases are relatively isolated & this new government report about 1/2 children being in danger my alcohol is utter bullsh*t.

Given that we are a minority nation in the EU as much as I hate to say it we may need to start playing the discrimination card because most of the sentiment coming from the OP is based on stereotypical racism.

Isolated cases yeah? I was an alcoholic till I quit 9 years ago. I have a sister in law in her early 50's in hospital with jaundice because of liver failure. One of my best friends is rapidly going down the road of being an alcoholic. Two weeks ago I attended the funeral of a guy who topped himself because of his drink problem.

leggo

Lads you're completely stretching my argument to suit your own here. Where did I claim that Europeans don't drink, vomit or that Dublin is less 'safe' than other places (a completely different argument altogether!)?

No, what I'm arguing is that the culture of binge-drinking is much more engrained into the likes of Ireland and UK than elsewhere (where it is even glamourised in shows such as Republic of Telly and Boozed Up Britain). You don't see big Swiss or Danish bars in Dubai, Australia, USA etc. But you see Irish bars because it's the stereotype we have and they stay in business because we live up to it phenomenally.

And it begins from an early age. Tell me, when you were living on the continent, were you constantly approached by young teens asking you to buy them booze in the local supermarkets every weekend? What else is there for teens to do in this country but drink in fields? Then when they get older, drinking is the default option for a night out socialising. Every small town you drive through in Ireland has a shop, a post office and a pub.

If you don't see all of this ye're either completely blind or in severe denial. The latter, ironically, being a strong indicator that someone has a drink problem.

MrStuffins

leggo wrote: »

Lads you're completely stretching my argument to suit your own here. Where did I claim that Europeans don't drink, vomit or that Dublin is less 'safe' than other places (a completely different argument altogether!)?

Well, you framed your argument in such a way as if to say that, while the things that you listed happen in Dublin, they don't happen in Paris, Munich & Milan. You used sarcam to make the point.

leggo wrote: »

Yeah cus go out any night in Paris, Munich, Milan etc and you'll see women puking on every street corner, lads beating the ****e out of each other over some crackhead looking young wan and Abra Kebabra becoming a more hazardous working environment than Libya or Iraq.

Don't even get me started about the trauma suffered due to my experience on the French late night bus service, 'Le Nitelink'.

But no, we're grand, sure it's all a bitta craic isn't it?!

I hope you can appreciate why we thought (and I still think) that is what you were trying to say.

No, what I'm arguing is that the culture of binge-drinking is much more engrained into the likes of Ireland and UK than elsewhere (where it is even glamourised in shows such as Republic of Telly and Boozed Up Britain).

I don't watch Republic of Telly but i've seen Boozed Up Britain. It does anything BUT "glamourise" binge drinking culture.

You don't see big Swiss or Danish bars in Dubai, Australia, USA etc. But you see Irish bars because it's the stereotype we have and they stay in business because we live up to it phenomenally.

Exactly. A stereotype.

Just because a stereotype of irish drinking exists, this doesn't mean that drink binges, violence and vomiting doesn't happen all over Europe. In fact, you used Munich as an example. I'd argue that the Germans perhaps have a bigger reputation for drinking than we do. if not, at least a very similar one.

And it begins from an early age. Tell me, when you were living on the continent, were you constantly approached by young teens asking you to buy them booze in the local supermarkets every weekend?

Yes.

What else is there for teens to do in this country but drink in fields? Then when they get older, drinking is the default option for a night out socialising. Every small town you drive through in Ireland has a shop, a post office and a pub.

Well, that's a different argument. Nobody is saying that Irish people don't tend to drink a lot. I was addressing your point that it doesn't take place in other European cities. This simply isn't true.

If you don't see all of this ye're either completely blind or in severe denial. The latter, ironically, being a strong indicator that someone has a drink problem.

I do see this. Again, I never said Irish people don't drink.

What i DID say though was that you were wrong in your presumption that these things don't happen elsewhere in Europe. they certainly do!

muppetkiller

The simple reason most Irish people Drink to excess is that we're in general not a very Socially Confident people. Most of the 30's generation didn't go to Co-Ed Schools , Drama and Music Classes are considered 'Cringe' for the lads.. so when they are in situations they're not used to they go for 'Royal' Dutch courage.
Part of the Education system should be to have a type of Toastmasters class at least twice a week to give students confidence in public speaking and maybe Drama for feeling comfortable acting (before they go out getting hammered and acting the idiot lol)

Another point might be 'Depression' I'd say the levels of depression in this country are massive. Between the weather and the general lack of things to do that don't cost money, people can find themselves just staying in and boredom sets in.
Anyway that's my two cents..

leggo

leggo wrote: »

And it begins from an early age. Tell me, when you were living on the continent, were you constantly approached by young teens asking you to buy them booze in the local supermarkets every weekend? What else is there for teens to do in this country but drink in fields? Then when they get older, drinking is the default option for a night out socialising. Every small town you drive through in Ireland has a shop, a post office and a pub.

If you don't see all of this ye're either completely blind or in severe denial. The latter, ironically, being a strong indicator that someone has a drink problem.

I've actually never lived in the continent, but work with lots of different nationalities here.

Italy is the most I am familiar with has I have good friends from there. Funnily we were approached by young teens asking for drink not so long ago and I asked my Italian friend if that happens in Italy he said no, as they can just by their own drink. he also said that a huge problem has developed with very young people getting drunk in recent years, much worse than he has seen in Ireland.

jester77

leggo wrote: »

And it begins from an early age. Tell me, when you were living on the continent, were you constantly approached by young teens asking you to buy them booze in the local supermarkets every weekend? What else is there for teens to do in this country but drink in fields? Then when they get older, drinking is the default option for a night out socialising. Every small town you drive through in Ireland has a shop, a post office and a pub.

If you don't see all of this ye're either completely blind or in severe denial. The latter, ironically, being a strong indicator that someone has a drink problem.

You don't get approached by teens on the continent because they can buy their own beer. The legal age here in Germany is 16 and most don't go to college here until they are about 19. These kids usually have their wild years out of their systems by then and take a more mature approach towards college and partying.

Wattle

muppetkiller wrote: »

The simple reason most Irish people Drink to excess is that we're in general not a very Socially Confident people. Most of the 30's generation didn't go to Co-Ed Schools , Drama and Music Classes are considered 'Cringe' for the lads.. so when they are in situations they're not used to they go for 'Royal' Dutch courage.
Part of the Education system should be to have a type of Toastmasters class at least twice a week to give students confidence in public speaking and maybe Drama for feeling comfortable acting (before they go out getting hammered and acting the idiot lol)

Another point might be 'Depression' I'd say the levels of depression in this country are massive. Between the weather and the general lack of things to do that don't cost money, people can find themselves just staying in and boredom sets in.
Anyway that's my two cents..

Well depression and alcohol abuse go hand in hand. Undiagnosed depression and a general lack of self esteem. There could be something in this. Certainly a catholic education teaches you a lot of self loathing. I also notice how anxious we are as a nation that foreigners like us. Think we're a bit needy.

ScumLord

Sarah Loose Trek wrote: »

Well if you dont drink for 2 months and then go out you will be sick as a dog. If your out on a session twice per week every week the hangovers are never as bad, but miss one week without having a good drink and the next big session the hangover is always much worse.

You do need the bit of practice but at this stage I'm not willing to put in the effort to be a good drinker. I'm just board with it and the scene, I went full on it for the last two years and I think I may have broke my stomach to boot so I'm staying away from it altogether.

Your kidding yourself if you think Europeans don't go out and have a good big session, I have drank sink fulls on many occasions with people from different European countries, some I drink with every week.

Also regardless of how much is drank in any Irish city they are much safer than Paris or Milan at night.

I think most other nationalities use Irish people as an excuse to drink at the same time. I backpacked Europe for 2 months and was drinking pretty much every day with people from all over the world, but it was astonishing the day I came back to Ireland I arrived into Galway at night and there where literally women passed out in the road puking their guts up, and lads betting the heads off each other. My point being I had to go away from Ireland to notice how bad it is on my return.

I haven't really experienced the drunken mayhem that you would see on the streets of Ireland (not so much now with the recession though) anywhere else in Europe.

starbelgrade

Snickers Man wrote: »

Very very interesting.

Now what you need to do is transfer that on to a branding iron and then imprint it firmly on the head of those idiots, particularly in the leader-writing section of the Irish Times, who suggest that price is the only controlling mechanism that can be used to alleviate our alcohol abuse problem.

The more expensive a country's alcohol; the greater the reputation as a nation of binge drinkers.

Ireland, Britain, Sweden, Poland

Why can nobody in a position of influence see this simple correlation?????

I see what you're saying, but I'm not sure that I'd draw the same conclusions... the countries who consume the most have the highest prices, but I don't think that these countries drink more because drink is more expensive, I simply think that it's a case of those governments cashing in on the fact that people spend a lot on alcohol.

However, I do agree that raising the price does little to reduce alcohol consumption. I'm quite sure though, that governments are well aware of this, but they like to be seen to be doing something in the public eye & if it has the side effect of raising taxes to the government coffers, then it's a win-win for them.

gasher

Just finished a four day binge great crack at the time,wish i never did it,just checked bank account shocking,At 34 it aint good feel like death

Debased Pixie

I was just in italy there a few weeks ago, alcohol is priced about the same
as in Ireland, maybe a bit more expensive depending where you go and one thing I noticed was that when the Italians drive, they are mental, no rules, beep like crazy and don't give a **** in general. When they drink, so conservative and relaxed, don't tend to drink like there is no tomorrow like the Irish..
Over here, it's completely the opposite where it's considered almost rude to beep anybody and the joke of the bus lane being empty but huge traffic jams.
The italians would never obey that law!

Their system is better with drink and driving....

Debased Pixie

Wattle wrote: »

Well depression and alcohol abuse go hand in hand. Undiagnosed depression and a general lack of self esteem. There could be something in this. Certainly a catholic education teaches you a lot of self loathing. I also notice how anxious we are as a nation that foreigners like us. Think we're a bit needy.

Your definitely on to something here. That lack of self esteem is endemic in Irish people. More and more I do notice people who just don't seem happy.
I don't know how much the catholic system has to do with it, as it never bothered me. So i can't say anything about that. But what I have noticed is an increase in general narcissism, due to the exposure of american culture and a greater acceptance of materialism and vanity.

OPENROAD

muppetkiller wrote: »

The simple reason most Irish people Drink to excess is that we're in general not a very Socially Confident people. Most of the 30's generation didn't go to Co-Ed Schools , Drama and Music Classes are considered 'Cringe' for the lads.. so when they are in situations they're not used to they go for 'Royal' Dutch courage.
Part of the Education system should be to have a type of Toastmasters class at least twice a week to give students confidence in public speaking and maybe Drama for feeling comfortable acting (before they go out getting hammered and acting the idiot lol)

Another point might be 'Depression' I'd say the levels of depression in this country are massive. Between the weather and the general lack of things to do that don't cost money, people can find themselves just staying in and boredom sets in.
Anyway that's my two cents..

And drink is not expensive

Gingko

ScumLord wrote: »

You do need the bit of practice but at this stage I'm not willing to put in the effort to be a good drinker. I'm just board with it and the scene, I went full on it for the last two years and I think I may have broke my stomach to boot so I'm staying away from it altogether.


I think most other nationalities use Irish people as an excuse to drink at the same time. I backpacked Europe for 2 months and was drinking pretty much every day with people from all over the world, but it was astonishing the day I came back to Ireland I arrived into Galway at night and there where literally women passed out in the road puking their guts up, and lads betting the heads off each other. My point being I had to go away from Ireland to notice how bad it is on my return.

I haven't really experienced the drunken mayhem that you would see on the streets of Ireland (not so much now with the recession though) anywhere else in Europe.

Agree with you there! I lived in Galway on and off for 4 years and was never comfortable with the ridiculous amounts of alcoholics and stoners (all addicts). Galway is a microcosm of this drunk culture. But!! There are plenty of things to do in Galway, Gigs, watersports, theatre, cinema, gyms, cultural events etc. But still it's wall to wall with unhappy people destroying their minds and bodies with drink and drugs.

Anyone that thinks Europe is as bad as here is delusional?

Doc Ruby

Sarah Loose Trek wrote: »

he also said that a huge problem has developed with very young people getting drunk in recent years, much worse than he has seen in Ireland.

Yeah I was reading about that in the paper. I'll tell you what though, if you want to see binge drinking and general alcohol abuse look no further than Eastern Europeans and Russians. Not to tar them with the same brush, far from it, but my experiences have been that they would down a bottle of vodka neat and then go out on the piss.

ScumLord wrote: »

I arrived into Galway at night and there where literally women passed out in the road puking their guts up, and lads betting the heads off each other.

Galway's a bit of a special case though, you get thicks from the surrounding countryside swaggering in with the express intention of getting in a fight, its like a point of pride with them to show the townies or something. Mix that with the celtic tiger cubs and the uni crowd and you've a colourful bit of life's wondrous tapestry.

Gingko

Doc Ruby wrote: »

Yeah I was reading about that in the paper. I'll tell you what though, if you want to see binge drinking and general alcohol abuse look no further than Eastern Europeans and Russians. Not to tar them with the same brush, far from it, but my experiences have been that they would down a bottle of vodka neat and then go out on the piss.


Galway's a bit of a special case though, you get thicks from the surrounding countryside swaggering in with the express intention of getting in a fight, its like a point of pride with them to show the townies or something. Mix that with the celtic tiger cubs and the uni crowd and you've a colourful bit of life's wondrous tapestry.

Re Galway, A lot of the older crowd are messed up too. It's like their lost in life?

Kaneda_

I drink to block out the demons i have cut myself 3 times on the arm

Doc Ruby

Gingko wrote: »

Re Galway, A lot of the older crowd are messed up too. It's like their lost in life?

Can't say I've ever met any locals with that problem. Galway has a very bohemian reputation though, it attracts a lot of drifters from all over the world, which is great, but they aren't all well balanced types either.

Gingko

Gingko wrote: »

Agree with you there! I lived in Galway on and off for 4 years and was never comfortable with the ridiculous amounts of alcoholics and stoners (all addicts). Galway is a microcosm of this drunk culture. But!! There are plenty of things to do in Galway, Gigs, watersports, theatre, cinema, gyms, cultural events etc. But still it's wall to wall with unhappy people destroying their minds and bodies with drink and drugs.

Anyone that thinks Europe is as bad as here is delusional?

If you didnt feel comfortable in Galway you will find it hard to feel comfortable anywhere. Its the safest city in Ireland by a long way and probably in Europe. I'm from galway and cant wait to get back living there full time again.

jester77

Gingko wrote: »

Anyone that thinks Europe is as bad as here is delusional?

You need to travel more. I lived in Frankfurt and seen junkies shooting up in broad daylight when police were around and nothing was done. The problem is too big so the police leave them to it. They once tried to clean it up but made the problem worse. I even seen a junkie sitting on steps to the underground shooting up while a bunch of kids under 10 years of age stood and watched him. Ireland is not that bad yet.

Wattle

Doc Ruby wrote: »

Yeah I was reading about that in the paper. I'll tell you what though, if you want to see binge drinking and general alcohol abuse look no further than Eastern Europeans and Russians. Not to tar them with the same brush, far from it, but my experiences have been that they would down a bottle of vodka neat and then go out on the piss.

I think climate is a factor. I've travelled a fair bit and I noticed that the further north you go people tend to drink more. Example being Russia. I volunteered in Mongolia for three months and boy can those people put away vodka. Men and women equally. They make the Irish look like rank amateurs.

Shenshen

Scanlas The 2nd wrote: »

The reason imo Irish people drink so much is due higher levels of nervousness amongst Irish people. People generally drink to feel good and get in a sociable mood. When you are nervous it is difficult and not enjoyable socialising. The government seems to think taxes are the solution to reduce the excess drinking. This is just treating the symptoms and not the cause. It could actually create new problems if people can't cure their nervousness due to lack of alcohol. I don't know why Irish people are more nervous than other nations, but the solution lies in teaching people how to relax and be carefree without alcohol.

Maybe meditation should be taught in school or some other excercises which allow people to clear their heads of their thoughts and to be in the moment.

I come from a country where people would just stare in amazement at the drinking habits of the Irish, but I have to say we don't really do meditation... I'm not sure where that notion came from.

Kaneda_

Alcohol is the next biggest thing to hit ireland,you heard it hear first

Shenshen

jester77 wrote: »

You need to travel more. I lived in Frankfurt and seen junkies shooting up in broad daylight when police were around and nothing was done. The problem is too big so the police leave them to it. They once tried to clean it up but made the problem worse. I even seen a junkie sitting on steps to the underground shooting up while a bunch of kids under 10 years of age stood and watched him. Ireland is not that bad yet.

That's a little like saying that gangs rule all of the US after having visited LA...

Feisar

Sarah Loose Trek wrote: »

If you didnt feel comfortable in Galway you will find it hard to feel comfortable anywhere. Its the safest city in Ireland by a long way and probably in Europe. I'm from galway and cant wait to get back living there full time again.

What is it about the place, there just seems to be a good vibe when you wander down the street!

I feel that I have better craic when I'm drunk but when I'm drunk I just drink more and more, mostly shots and hard spirits because "ah sher feck it" then I'm locked and end up making a clown out of myself. I don't see it as a "Problem" though.

leggo

Doc Ruby wrote: »

I think climate is a factor. I've travelled a fair bit and I noticed that the further north you go people tend to drink more. Example being Russia. I volunteered in Mongolia for three months and boy can those people put away vodka. Men and women equally. They make the Irish look like rank amateurs.

The Eastern Europeans can drink it like water, agreed, but at the same time they also treat it like water. With 100% of Eastern Europeans that I've known and drank with, the culture of drinking vodka in that manner isn't with the objective of getting LOCKED in mind. The only one's I've known who go out to get twisted are those who live here and embrace Irish culture a lot more...so, as someone alluded to earlier, perhaps they're using the Irish as an excuse to get drunk.

A quick Google search will back up the theory that Ireland abuses alcohol a lot more than others. Since 2007, at least, we've been on top of every binge-drinking table and the most recent figures show a 7% lead of people who binge-drink regularly over the next heaviest drinking country. How can people seriously argue that the stereotype is unfair when we back it up every single time?

ScumLord

Gingko wrote: »

Agree with you there! I lived in Galway on and off for 4 years and was never comfortable with the ridiculous amounts of alcoholics and stoners (all addicts).

I never noticed it before though, I thought Galway was a quite spot and it is compared to my own town. I've never run into trouble myself and have had great nights just sitting in Eyre sq. drinking cans or smoking spliffs never got in a bit of bother or took any notice of it until I went away and got some references.