Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit agus gabhaim comhghairdeas leis. I welcome the second report of the strategic task force on alcohol. The report's recommendations aim to enhance society's ability to prevent and respond to alcohol-related harm; to achieve the targets set out in the WHO declaration on young people and alcohol; to provide for early intervention to ensure effective treatments; and to increase the responsibility of the drinks industry in reducing alcohol problems.

We have to appreciate that alcohol is a socially acceptable drug. Contrary to common belief, it does have the same effect on everybody. The British Medical Association's definition of an "alcoholic" was not an incorrect assessment. The World Health Organisation considers that a person whose drinking, or behaviour as a result of drinking, affects any of the three main areas of life — family, work and social activity — is an "alcoholic". It might be appropriate to state that such a person certainly has a drink problem. It does not matter how much one drinks, but how alcohol affects one or how one behaves after one has been drinking.

The second report of the strategic task force discusses at length the various difficulties which can arise after people have been drinking. Alcohol is all the more dangerous, and all the more difficult to deal with, because it is a socially acceptable drug. The Minister, Deputy Martin, has pointed out that one of this country's biggest problems with alcohol is one of cultural acceptance, although it might be more accurate to refer to it as cultural indifference. I do not doubt that there is a tolerant attitude to alcohol in this country. Nobody wants to be a killjoy, but it is evident that the pub forms a traditional centrepiece to Irish life. I am aware of that as somebody who goes to the pub from time to time. The atmosphere, music, song and craic found in pubs are intrinsic aspects of Ireland's tourism industry. It is obvious today that Ireland may lack good weather, but we often compensate for that with conviviality. That does not need to change as long as we are responsible.

It is important to consider the difficulties caused by the abuse of alcohol. I refer not only to the number of working days lost as a result of alcohol abuse, when men or women do not turn up for work, but also to the resultant decrease in production. The Minister of State has mentioned that many workers have to do additional work to compensate for the absence of their colleagues.

Many organisations have been established to deal with alcohol problems. I acknowledge the great work done by Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon and Alateen. The latter organisation has not been greatly successful, but attempts have been made to get it to work. INCA has also played a pivotal role in highlighting the dangers and attending difficulties of alcohol abuse.

Ireland should not be proud of its position in the alcohol league table of nations. There is stark evidence that a significant proportion of the population is not content merely to enjoy a drink. Ireland's per capita alcohol consumption in 2001 was the second highest in the European Union, including the ten new member states which joined the Union in May 2004. Ireland's per capita alcohol consumption peaked at 14.4 litres of pure alcohol per adult in 2001. The first fall in consumption for 16 years took place in 2003, when the relevant figure decreased to 13.5 litres per adult. While this decrease is welcome, there is a very long way to go.

Many things have been said during the debate on alcohol consumption. I do not think the demonisation of vintners during the debate has been fair. One is responsible for one's own drinking and one's own health. I will speak on the health aspects of alcohol consumption in a moment. Parents have a major responsibility to prevent under age drinking. It is regrettable that a sizeable number of parents seem to have abdicated their responsibilities in that regard.

I took a course in alcohol therapy and substance abuse some years ago when I worked in the psychiatric nursing profession. A 22 year old woman who was a reformed alcoholic was also taking the course. She was the only daughter of two doting parents. By the time they discovered their daughter had a problem, it was far too late and they eventually disowned her. The woman's journey back from skid row was long, arduous and tedious, but she succeeded in making it. She was taking the alcohol therapy course with me and 13 other people at the age of 22. It is clear that while alcohol might be a social drug, it has great dangers.

Senator Browne has asked why a national identity card has not been introduced. I understand that young people have a great talent for producing ID cards with the aid of personal computers. We have not yet come up with the ideal card. I agree with the Senator that some foolproof identity card would be most useful. There is evidence to suggest that such identity cards have been used and will continue to be used with particular effect, for example in off-licences.

Previous speakers have referred to the impact of the abuse of alcohol on the health service. People who have indulged in alcohol, or have been assaulted by people who have over-indulged in alcohol, for example in unprovoked attacks, contribute to inappropriate bed occupancy in accident and emergency units. It may not be the fault of such people that they have found themselves in accident and emergency departments. There is strong evidence to suggest that many people are creating mayhem in accident and emergency units because of their own wilful ingestion of alcohol. That should stop.

I wish to speak about a certain practice, often involving alcohol, which has affected psychiatric services in the past. I hope that it is no longer going on, since I have been out of that profession for several years. In acute units, people who had drunk a great deal would present themselves on the pretext that they wished to be admitted. The following morning, having had bed and breakfast provided, they would thumb their nose at the nursing and medical staff and go on their way until the next occasion. Hospitals have been used as hostels. This matter was previously raised by Senator Norris and perhaps also Senator Henry regarding the Eastern Health Board, when it was the subject of a special motion. What are we to do? Many recommendations in this report have been referred to, but when it comes to how we can take the drinks industry to task, we must address the manner in which alco-pops are pushed. They are designed for the young drinker. I agree with Senator Browne's comment that the cost of soft drinks is extremely high. It is ludicrous. One can get bottles of sparkling water of various kinds for anything up to €2.50. That is absolute nonsense; one can buy alcohol for less.

Mortality on the roads as a result of drink driving needs special mention, as does the emergence of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, or MADD. Perhaps there should be a DADD too. As a dad, I too am very much against such drivers. I am thankful that I have not yet lost a child to one. However, it is outrageous when a life is taken as a result of the abuse of alcohol. When we discuss the various problems that emanate from over-indulgence in alcohol, we must also mention the use and abuse of alcohol by pregnant women. It is absolutely unbelievable, and the report draws attention to what is clearly a major worry owing to the damage that can be done to the baby, especially during the early stages of pregnancy when the central nervous system is developing. A recent study of women attending an Irish maternity hospital reported that 85% continued to drink during pregnancy. We should not be proud of that statistic. If men were the child-bearing part of the equation, I would say exactly the same thing. It is a great worry and it will cause problems in future.

Estimated alcohol-related costs to Irish society in 2003 were €2.65 billion, representing 2.6% of gross national product, a 12% increase on the previous estimate. High consumption combined with binge drinking has especially damaging effects. We all know that, apart from the conditions mentioned by the Minister of State, there is also the danger of brain damage. At a certain stage of alcoholism, when people get boozed up and go to sleep, a quantity of brain cells are killed before they wake up, and a further number damaged. That was very much brought to our notice when we attended that course. While alcohol is a very enjoyable social drug, it is also very dangerous when used in a certain way. One must remember that it is mood-altering. Some people can take a certain number of units without any great adverse effect. I pointed out in the early part of my comments when I referred to the terminology describing alcoholics that the issue is not what or how much people drink but what it does to them.

We must be responsible. MEAS is trying to achieve that in the manner in which it tackles the problem. Driving the problem underground is not the answer, since there would be an increased incidence of drinking at home. That is not welcome, given the presence of children in most homes. We must put area prevention programmes into operation. As I said, AA, Al-Anon, Alateen, INCA and other such organisations have a pivotal role. Crisis intervention must be introduced into the workplace, the home and society in general. People become alcoholics when they reach the stage of denial and delusion, at which point they do not appreciate their problem. Something must be done to get them to come to terms with it. Crisis intervention is known as the most effective policy in that regard.