By Dr. Caroline Smyth
Dr. Caroline Smyth is a Research Psychologist and Suicidologist with Rehab Care West. She has done vast research in relation to suicide and is the author of Cultivating Suicide and co-editor of Binge Drinking and Youth Culture.

As Irish affluence has increased over the last 15 years, society has seen both the rates of suicide and binge drinking increase. While trends over the past 40 years have shown a gradual increase in the consumption of alcohol, but a dramatic increase has been seen in more recent years. For example, the percentage increase in alcohol consumption increased by 41% between 1989 and 1999. Striking in its own right, this figure takes on additional significance when European figures for this same period are examined, as a downward trend was seen in most nations at this time. For the year 2000, the total per capita level of alcohol consumption in Ireland was 14.2 litres, compared with an average of 9.1 litres for the rest of Europe. An important feature of Irish drinking behaviour has always been the high number of total abstainers – that is, groups who do not drink alcohol at all. Recent focus on binge drinking has queried whether an actual increase in consumption has been seen, or if the increase is merely a reflection of a reduction in the abstaining group. Research suggests however, that the increase is “real” as the increase in consumption cannot be explained by any apparent decline in abstinence. Thus, this is an issue, which warrants considerable attention in the Irish context.

Alcohol abuse, among any group, but especially among young people is a serious and concerning issue. What has come to the fore in recent discussions on this topic is the so-called phenomenon of “binge drinking” in Ireland. At its simplest, binge drinking may be understood as drinking a large quantity of alcohol in a short space of time, with the intention of becoming drunk. Beyond this common sense understanding however, there exists much debate as to precisely what constitutes “binge drinking”. The generally accepted definition, is that five drinks in a row for men, and six drinks in a row for women, constitutes an episode of “binge drinking”. This view however, fails to take into account the drinker’s weight and height, whether or not food was consumed along with the alcohol, the timeframe over which the alcohol was consumed, and, perhaps most importantly, the reasons behind the consumption of alcohol.

Young people’s lifestyles have changed dramatically in the last 15 years, for example, as a result of the boom in the Irish economy, young people are guaranteed an income, if they so wish. In addition to this, parents have, to an extent, lost the control of their adolescents’ cash flow and spending power. With this cash flow, comes an increase in freedoms and choices – one of these choices being a more regular and available ability to buy alcohol. Furthermore, contemporary Irish society, is strongly consumer-driven. Today’s adolescents live in a global economy and are more likely than any previous generation to be approached as potential consumers. For this reason, the spending power of youth, and the role of alcohol as a commodity of “youth culture” is of particular importance.

In binge drinking, as in all other public health issues, prevention is better than cure. Parents, teachers, those involved with youth, policy-makers and government each have a role to play. Recent research has suggested that although problematic when mis-used, alcohol across cultures, is, for the most part used in socially acceptable and responsible ways, but that for this pattern of responsible consumption to be facilitated, it is essential that individuals be supported in developing the necessary skills for this. Many studies suggest that parents in particular, have a crucial role to play and that behaviour modelled by parents has a longer-lasting and more powerful impact than even advertising. Parents who model excessive consumption, or patterns of abuse are more likely to have children who behave in a similar manner towards alcohol. Thus, “it is in this interactive, mutual and complex parent-child setting that the “groundwork” for future responsible alcohol consumption is best laid” (Furnham, 2004).

Alongside this, Irish researchers and health practitioners continue to call for a “joined up” approach from government in the regulation and control of alcohol advertising, the sponsorship of sporting events etc. and a more stringent stance on the availability of alcohol more generally. Thus, responsibility is frequently laid at the feet of the alcohol industry. While it is true that a responsible approach to young people as consumers is required, in the case of alcohol as with any other potentially harmful product, the conclusion that can be reached from European and international research, is that none of these approaches will work effectively in isolation.

It is only by including groups from the various sectors, and taking a balanced, mature approach to this, most Irish of problems, that we will effectively tackle this issue- as Brophy (2004) summarises; “The challenge is to imagine and actualise an Irish society where alcohol has its place, not as the central aspect of culture, but merely as one of the many ingredients that make up our identity”

Elements of this piece have previously been published in “Binge Drinking& Youth Culture” (2004). C. Smyth & M. MacLachlan (Eds). Dublin: The Liffey Press.

Dr. Caroline Smyth is a Research Psychologist and Suicidologist with Rehab Care West. She has done vast research in relation to suicide and is the author of Cultivating Suicide and co-editor of Binge Drinking and Youth Culture.