Students warned against binge drinking dangers
Students should be taught that binge drinking and getting drunk are the perfect ingredients for a bad night, youth groups were told tonight.
The Young Person’s Forum at Aras an Uchtarain, hosted by President Mary McAleese, heard that education in the dangers of alcohol was the key to a change in attitude.
Tony McDonnell, Union of Students of Ireland President, said people needed to acknowledge that alcohol affected society as a whole, not just young binge drinkers.
“Education from an early age is key to tackling the problems in later life. Students in both second and third levels should be shown that ‘getting locked’ is not the best way of ensuring a good night is had, in fact in many cases it does the exact opposite,” Mr McDonnell said.
He said it was clear from recent reports, primarily the CLAN Report, that alcohol use is prevalent among students.
The Clan study revealed high levels of alcohol and drug use among college students.
And it noted student binge drinkers were three times more likely to have experienced money problems, 32% against 10%, fights, 22% against 6%, and unprotected sex, 19% against 6% than students who did not binge drink.
“This specific report highlighted amongst other things that many students, four out of five, believed that anyone can become alcohol dependent,” Mr McDonnell said.
“While much of the recent media attention has been focused on young people binge drinking it is vital that there is an acknowledgement that the problems of alcohol in Ireland is one that affects society as a whole.”
Young people from a range of backgrounds discussed alcohol-related issues at the forum.
President McAleese noted over the past 10 years, alcohol-related illnesses had increased by 61% and incidents of alcohol poisoning by 90%. Of the increase in fatal house fires in the last year, half were connected to alcohol, the President said.
“Alcohol abuse is an avoidable calamity and with your help it can, and hopefully will, be avoided by the concerted efforts of our people young and old,” the President said.
Students from Moyne Community School, Co Longford, who won an award at the Young Social Innovators competition earlier this year on tackling alcohol misuse, outlined the results of their award-winning research at the forum.
The forum is being facilitated by Father Peter McVerry who works with homeless boys in Dublin, and was attended by young members of a forum attached to the National Children’s Office, and a number of Government ministers of State also attended.
The forum follows a similar initiative earlier this year at which experts on suicide and community groups were invited to participate at a special gathering at the Aras.
