With March 17th fast approaching, the nation will need to prepare itself for our annual celebration of Irishness; St. Patrick's Day. Unfortunately, being Irish is confused with self abuse through alcohol far too often. In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day has become more about self harm and social disorder than parades and green confetti.
The trends for St Patrick's Day reveal a similar story. Children as young as twelve will be celebrating March 17th with alcohol, while arrests in relation to public disorder and driving under the influence of alcohol are expected to increase dramatically.
This raises concerns about our attitude towards alcohol as a nation, not just on March 17th but year round. Irish society is one that glorifies alcohol, and our reputation as a nation has revolved around this for years. Some of our most successful exports are alcohol related, and St. Patrick's Day itself has become a global celebration of Irish culture with an emphasis on alcohol consumption.
Despite its benefits to our international reputation and the Irish economy, the Irish appetite for alcohol abuse has been revealed to have serious health and societal drawbacks.
St. Patrick's Hospital Medical Director Professor Jim Lucey has been quoted as saying that '... There has also been an increase in alcohol related deaths, liver disease and alcohol related diseases/injuries. The statistics on the increases in alcohol consumption are quite frightening yet culturally we are taught to relate alcohol with enjoyment. Many, especially our young people, feel you have to be drunk to enjoy a celebration. This must change.'
What remains are two pressing questions about St. Patrick's Day, Alcohol, and Ireland; 'How can the current societal trends in alcohol consumption be changed?', and 'Is there enough public and political will to tackle these trends when they stem from our own identity as Irish people?' Both questions remain to be answered.
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