Alcohol The International Issue

The excessive use of alcohol is becoming a problem on a global scale, resulting in numerous social problems upsetting all walks of life. In northern Ireland the Chief Medical Officer – Dr Michael McBride has identified the extensive use of alcohol amid the younger generation. In Northern Ireland children as young as 11 are consuming alcohol and by the age of 16 it is believed four out of five teenagers will have had an alcoholic drink of some description. Dr McBride believes that the reason so many young people are turning to drink in Northern Ireland is to improve their social and sexual confidence and requests higher awareness of the damage that alcohol can do.

Regrettably excessive consumption of alcohol among teenagers is having a harmful impact on communities across Northern Ireland predominantly within urban areas. Within 2 years child crime has risen by approximately 20% mainly fueled by alcoholic consumption amid children as young as seven. In contrast, burglary, vehicle crime and criminal damage have seen little or no rise whereas alcohol-related offences have grown by as much as a third.

In Northern Ireland The Garda youth diversion programme has been put in place to try and curb this anti social behavior with some positive results. Children suspected of crimes under this system are given the chance to redeem themselves by compensating or saying sorry to victims. Around 60-70% of the children have not re-offended within the first year after being submitted into this venture.

Obviously these problems are not limited to Northern Ireland and across the globe countries are taking their own steps to combat the social impact of alcohol-related incidents.

In recent years millions have been invested on an annual basis by drink companies in Kenya on measures to tackle alcohol abuse, underage drinking and drink driving. Purchases of alcoholic beverages have increased rapidly and these companies have invested a lot in projects to try and decrease the sometimes negative impact. Advertising, warnings on bottle labels and bartender training are just some of the ideas that have been applied.

The National Alcohol Beverages Association of Kenya (Nabak) working alongside The Pubs Entertainment Restaurants Association of Kenya (Perak) have been guiding the drinking habits of Kenyans by persuading alcohol selling outlets to endorse sensible drinking. The result has been very positive seeing in a significant downward trend in underage drinking following recent campaigns.

Other countries are using other techniques in their fight to combat alcohol abuse. Australia has brought in restrictions in its Northern Territory, and in some towns photo identification must be shown when obtaining alcoholic drinks. These new measures have not gone down well with everyone and some publicans have been subject to abuse, but on the whole the general belief among retailers is that this is a positive step in the right direction in the battle against the increasing social problems related to alcohol.