Inebriated Ireland

“I had such a great time last night! I can’t remember a thing!!!”
Whenever these words are uttered, I cannot help but listen in awe to the amazing paradox that has just come out of this last night’s party goer. There is a simple reason for my wonderment. If you can’t remember last night, how then can you be sure that it was indeed a great one?
I suppose that this question comes from the fact that (take a large breath, because it could possibly be construed as yet another paradox…). I am a nineteen year old, Irish teenager, who doesn’t drink. And don’t get me wrong. It is not due to any particular reason other than the fact that I honestly don’t see the point of it. It’s not that I haven’t had the opportunities. It’s not that I am an innocent kid who has not been exposed to the chance to become absolutely langered, as some may say.
But right from the day I could comprehend the ideas behind alcohol, I chose not to drink. From a personal standpoint, going out and losing your sense of judgement just doesn’t seem like an intelligent idea. Too often have I heard stories from people who rue their previous night’s actions. And yet, by the next week, the same person has decided that it would be a fantastic idea to throw all their senses out the window once more, and run those risks again. It doesn’t make any sense to me why people do this.Ok then. Maybe that’s me. Maybe I’ve been exposed to the wrong type of people. Maybe not all of Ireland is like that? But look at the facts. In a study of European countries by the Irish Health Promotion Unit, Ireland had the highest level of binge drinkers, with 58% of drinking occasions ending up in binge drinking among men and 30% among women. Alcohol related mortality has increased in line with the increases in alcohol consumption between 1992 and 2002, in particular alcohol specific chronic conditions e.g. dependency, abuse and psychosis (+61%) and acute conditions e.g. alcohol poisoning (+90%). Nearly €6 billion of personal income is spent on alcohol in Ireland representing €1,942 for every adult (15 years and over).
I could sit here and rhyme off facts and figures all day, but that would be pointless and boring. (And let’s face it. Many of you have probably condemned me as boring already!) But the bottom line is we have developed a drink culture worse than any other country, and all we can do is sit back, laugh and ironically, open a drink to celebrate.In Ireland, when Paddy is born, we drink. When Paddy receives his communion, we drink. When Paddy gets married, we drink. When Paddy gets sick and dies, we drink. Be it for happiness or sadness, celebration or despair, the Irish remain steadfast in their choice of activities. Drink until drunk.

In today’s society, the term “non-alcoholic event” simply means “drink as many shots as you can in your bedroom before going out”. We no longer appear to have the ability to have any form of a get together without involving drink. A simple stroll through the Arts block here on campus proves this point. “Come to our AGM. Free drinks for all!” “Monday, cheap drinks!” “Speed dating, come get sloshed and embarrass yourself in front of strangers.”Attitudes that most countries would be appalled by, we have a twisted sense of pride in. Yet, it cannot be a coincidence that a high amount of the road deaths in Ireland take place later at night. How often do we have to see the headlines “Four people died last night in a car crash, which occurred between 2 and 4 a.m.”? And what are people doing at this time of the night? Were they at the library or doing charity work? I seriously doubt it. Drink is involved, and yet the government and the gardai won’t admit it. If they did, then they would have to do something about it. Instead of picking on the school moms, who are doing one or two k.p.h over the limit, they would be out on a Saturday night arresting the drivers who are drunk and booting it down the roads at double the speed limit.
I know this article will undoubtedly alienate people; I know this will most likely gain a response of “Haha, look at the goody two shoed killjoy”, but at the end of the day, it is my decision. I am not going to try and force people to stop drinking. I don’t have that power. What really annoys me is the fact that Ireland as a culture and as a population, not only refuse to look on the under aged drinking, the binge drinking and the desire to go out with the sole intention of getting drunk negatively; we encourage and expect it! Too many people have replied to my parents telling them of my decision with “Ah, I’m sure he drinks. He just does it behind your back”. Too many people have said to me “Ah, go on. Sure it’s all a bit of craic”. What really irritates me the most about this attitude is the fact that some people cannot accept I choose not to partake in this cultural phenomenon.

I will always respect other people’s decisions to do what they want, but please, please, a thousand times, please, allow me the same privilege. Realise that not everyone is like you; not everyone wants to be like you. I apologise if my idea of a “great night” is staying in and watching 24, or going to the cinema with some friends, and being able to actually remember it. But maybe it is about time that as a culture, we start to challenge what our idea of “fun” is, and realise that a glass of larger may not be everyone’s cup of tea!