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Binge drinking among
15- and 16-year-olds
Letter to Irish Times
March 5, 2007
 
 
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Family and Media Association An educational resource for Families and the community at large concerned about the impact the media has on their lives. Highlights the implications for Christian values in programme content, especially those relating to the family, critically assesses standards of honesty, decency, fairness and truthfulness in the media and makes these assessments available to the public through its publication, media report, public seminars and the internet; makes available relevant research relating to the links between media content and psychsocial development, facilitates effective dialogue between the media and the public by informing both media and public about issues relating to both ; promotes public understanding of the functioning and power of the media, assesses and enhances the value of the media to the individual, the family and the community.

 

5 March 07

Binge drinking among 15- and 16-year-olds

Madam, - A recently reported European schools survey conducted in 2003 found (see Irish Times, March 1st) that 57 per cent of 15-year-olds were reported to have had five or more alcoholic drinks in a row in the past 30 days. The per centage of girls reporting this dramatically increased from 42 per cent in 1995 to 57 per cent in 2003. The results of this survey are very disturbing. However, it must also be said that not all teens are behaving in this way.

In an earlier European schools survey, reported in 2003, of drinking and drug taking habits of 15- and 16-year-olds in thirty European societies, Ireland fared worst of all. It showed that 32 per cent of both girls and boys engaged in binge drinking.

Referring to this, Mr Stephen Rowan, Director of the Rutland Centre, said that the consequences of this behaviour were, "problems at school, often with under achievement — sometimes with total failure; relationship problems; illicit sex; seriously damaging STIs; violence, accidents and injuries."

Successive Governments over the period of years (1995 to the present) have have failed to adequately address the problem. In your editorial, Madam, of March 1st you said the measures taken by the present Government have unfortunately "not been sufficient to stem the tide of drug taking and alcohol abuse among our young people."

As a nation we have a serious problem of alcohol abuse. We have the reputation overseas as "the drunken Irish." Not of of us like censorship, but for the sake of the common good of our society, one measure the Government could take is to restrict or totally ban the advertising of alcohol. However, the Government appear to have a cosy relationship with the alcohol industry and fear losing taxes. But, surely, the welfare of our children, in particular, must be their main concern?

Some years ago a number of well known journalists accused the media of sexualising our children. Alluding to this, psychologist, Dr. Marie Murray wrote:

"Little child, your innocence has been betrayed, your childhood stolen, your body marketed, your gender defiled, you have been banished from the citadel of childhood. You are a lucrative commodity, a target for unscrupulous exploitation. ... there is no one to defend you." -

Yours etc,

Ivo O'Sullivan, PhD,

Chair, Family and Media Association,