Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

The worrying extent of the impact of alcohol has been revealed by the first national report on trends in alcohol-related death. The report of the Health Research Board shows such deaths occur in all age groups, from teenagers to the elderly. The report examines alcohol-related deaths, looking at those caused by poisoning and non-poisoning deaths arising from medical and traumatic causes. It also examines causes of deaths for people who are alcohol dependent.

Almost half of the alcohol-only poisoning deaths recorded in the report occurred in the 40 to 54 age group. Two thirds of the cases were male. While alcohol is a factor in deaths in all age groups, its fatal effects are most evident in middle-aged men. Poisoning deaths caused by alcohol and other substances peaked in the 30 to 34 age group while the median age is 48. Again, two thirds of the cases were male.

Of the recorded non-poisoning deaths of people who were alcohol dependent, three quarters were male. Approximately nine out of ten cases were due to medical causes. The most common medical cause was alcoholic liver disease. One startling point is that this disease accounted for one third of deaths due to medical causes of alcohol dependent people in the 25 to 34 age group. The report also details deaths that involved alcohol among people who were not alcohol dependent. Two thirds of these deaths were due to traumatic causes which included drowning, choking and falling.

In 2009 the average adult in Ireland drank 11.9 litres of pure alcohol, double what was consumed in 1960. Clearly, with such an increase in alcohol consumption, there has been a change in our social habits. The stark reality of this change is brought into focus by this report. It shows that as a society we need to look at our lifestyle habits. The Health Research Board has shown that alcohol is having a fatal impact of the lives of many people.

In moderation alcohol is enjoyed by many people without the impact of its potential harmful consequences. For some it is a social lubricant; for others it provides a temporary escape. Unfortunately, there are those for whom alcohol becomes a crutch, upon which they become dependent. We must ensure those who suffer from the side effects of excessive alcohol consumption are provided with the appropriate health care.

Lifestyle choices do not only result in alcohol-related deaths. They can also be causes of obesity and type-2 diabetes. The stakeholders led by the Department of Health, Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Health Service Executive, along with the drinks industry, must examine steps to reduce the impact on health of lifestyle choices.

We must also develop lifestyle awareness initiatives to show the effects of excessive alcohol consumption and to encourage social choices which are not alcohol dependent. Through education and awareness, we can reduce the consumption of alcohol which in turn will reduce the number of alcohol-related deaths. It is important we have a debate on how we consume and use alcohol. The report of the Health Research Board should be a wake-up call for all of us. This report should not be allowed to pass without considering how to minimise the negative effects of alcohol. Will the Minister of State outline the implementation of the recommendations of the Health Research Board's report?

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