New research shows that 58% of the drinking done by men in Ireland is binge drinking, the London Press Association reported. The study conducted for Ireland’s Health Promotion Unit further found that 48% of all men and 16% of women in Ireland binge drink at least once a week. Ireland is the highest of all European countries in terms of binge drinking. In the UK the percentage of men who binge drink is 40%, while in France it is 9%.

In addition, more problems, such as falls, unintentional sex and public order offences, were linked to drinkers in Ireland than any other European country. Irish Health Minister, Michael Martin said that a number of initiatives are underway to address binge drinking: ‘The clear message from this research is that we must change our drinking patterns — we need to cut down and slow our drinking.’

The health minister recently distributed a ‘Guide to Rethinking your Drinking’, as well as a new advertising campaign that will be shown before movies in cinemas throughout the country. In addition, the new single by Irish artist Sinead O’Connor will include a booklet with information on alcohol.

A Strategic Task Force on Alcohol was set up in 2002. The Minister for Health & Children has now established an interdepartmental group to progress these and to coordinate responses.

The Health Promotion Unit in association with the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland, CERT, the licensed Vinters’ Federation of Ireland has developed a training programme for bar staff on the responsible serving of alcohol…. The course was launched in 2001. The RSA programme has been extended, and from January 2003 has been implemented and administrated by the National Hospitality Training body, CERT.

Further research includes ‘A Framework for Developing a College Alcohol Policy’, ‘A & E Survey’, ‘Survey on attitudes to Alcohol in Ireland’, ‘College Survey’, and a report on ‘The Impact of Alcohol Advertising on Teenagers in Ireland’.