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The Demon Drink!

Alcohol consumption is entrenched in Irish culture. We drink to celebrate and to grieve. It’s not just one or two drinks on occasion – we are binge drinkers. Children follow in the footsteps of their elders because parents are their children’s role models. When parents are tolerant of drunkenness, it’s normalised for children. When parents provide alcohol to their adolescents, those youngsters are at increased risk of alcohol-related harm and alcohol dependency later in life.

Alcohol is intertwined with Irish life. Although we know cigarettes are unhealthy, alcohol is not advertised as detrimental to our well-being – possibly because alcohol forms part of our societal and cultural norms. Alcohol is a psychoactive substance with dependence-producing properties, but it’s socially acceptable and legal. The drinks industry is central to the Irish economy – but at what human cost? I find it ironic that Diageo runs Irish alcohol awareness campaigns.

Alcohol causes harm, from Accident and Emergency hospital visits to alcohol-related deaths. Alcohol leads us to say and do things we would never say or do sober. It causes us to engage in risky sexual behaviours, to put ourselves in danger and make dodgy decisions. Alcohol dulls our memory and is linked with heart and liver disease, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, poor sleep, anxiety, and depression. Alcohol is linked with several cancers, including mouth, breast, bowel and throat.

Reducing the amount of alcohol we drink could reduce the risk of alcohol-related cancers. It doesn’t matter what we drink, alcohol causes the damage.

Consider giving your body a break. We do not need alcohol to function or to relax. We do not need alcohol to be sociable, to make us more interesting or to help us sleep. If you do, it’s time to rethink your habits. Cutting down means avoiding hangovers, saving money, getting a great night’s sleep, lowering the risk of stroke or heart disease, and improving overall mental and physical health.

How to cut down our alcohol intake:

Be drink aware. Pay attention to what you drink, when, how much and why.

Don’t keep it in the house.

Ask friends/family to support you as you reduce/cut down.

Distract yourself at the time you usually drink.

Never drink alone.

Change your scenery. Go to the cinema or for a meal instead of going to the pub.

Slow down when drinking.

Set a limit to the number of drinks and stop once that limit is reached.

Finish each drink before pouring another and drink water in between.

Drink from a smaller glass. Have a bottle instead of a can, a single instead of a double.

Pour one glass of wine, then put the bottle away.

Have alcohol-free days every week.

Rethink your relationship with the demon drink.

If you need support to change, help is available – reach out.

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