It’s not just the kids

by Mike

If the Government really want to effectively curb binge drinking, particularly among our youth, they should stop talking at young people and alternatively adopt a strategy where they engage with young people through mature dialogue.

So says Labour Party Spokesperson on Education and Science, Deputy Ruairi Quinn. Mr Quinn is calling on the Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan to include to include a representative from the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) on the newly established Advisory Group that is examining the consumption of alcohol.

I agree with Mr Quinn, I think it is something that can be looked at, but don’t think for one minute it is going to work. For starters most young people could not really care less about politics or politicians, as long as there’s money in their pockets and parents who do not care what they get up to, there’s nothing else really that’s going to stop them trying to buy drink while underage.

Also a representative from the National Youth Council of Ireland is not really going to give you the real inside as to how the youth of Ireland drink. Generally to be on the National Youth Council of Ireland, you would expect a teenager or young adult to fly straight and be upstanding or reasonably so anyway.

There has to be a change of attitude, something that says ‘I’m going to out have fun with my friends tonight’ and not ‘I’m going to go out and get drunk tonight’. It’s not just an attitude amongst teenagers, it’s becoming an across the board thing.

I work with a lot of different nationalities and they are amazed at our attitude to socialising. The European mentality is to have a good time and drinking helps that to happen, but is not essential. In Ireland and England there’s no good time to be had unless there’s drinking or at least it seems like it.

I would love see this Advisory Group work and help politicians come into the modern age. I doubt it will happen, as it will probably be put to the back burner as another waste of government money.

Unfortunately.

Friday, January 11th, 2008 and is filed under Thoughts & Questions, Views on News.