Written Answers. - Under-Age Drinking.
Mary Flaherty
Question:
158
Miss Flaherty
asked the
Minister for Health
the plans he has to assist communities to fight the problems of underage drinking; and the action his Department is taking at national level in relation to research in this regard.
I am concerned about the problem of under-age drinking in our society and several initiatives have been undertaken by my Department to help combat this problem.
The "Drug Question — Local Answers?" training programme has been specifically developed by the health promotion unit of my Department to promote a community response to drug problems. It brings together health and education professionals and interested voluntary workers in their local communities and it places great emphasis on the problems posed by alcohol abuse. To date over 400 persons have participated in the course at local level and it has been very favourably received.
The health promotion unit is also targetting young people themselves and in conjunction with the National Youth Council of Ireland, it is developing an alcohol education programme for use with young people, primarily in an informal youth club setting. Drink Awareness for Youth (DAY) is a prevention programme which aims to inform and educate young people about alcohol and the dangers associated with its abuse. A pilot study of the programme has been completed at various centres throughout the country and final production is now proceeding. It is intended for distribution to youth leaders for use after completion of a short training course.
Resource materials on alcohol education are also available from the health promotion unit of my Department. A series of booklets focus on the problem of underage drinking, one for young people, one for parents and one for youth leaders and professionals. Additional materials cover specific issues such as guidelines towards the assessment of an individual's drinking habits and women and alcohol. An educational video is also being developed which emphasises the need for abstention or moderate consumption of alcohol among young people.
However health education alone is insufficient to tackle the problem of alcohol abuse. Measures necessary to address the problem are multifactorial and are encompassed within the remit of a number of Government Departments. Such measures include, for example, access to and availability of alcohol as well as education and health promotion strategies.
In that context, the Government has decided that the Advisory Council on Health Promotion should develop a national policy on alcohol which will address the broader economic, social, educational and health factors that impinge on alcohol use including the problem of underage drinking. The council which was established in 1988 is a broadly based group representing the main economic and social interests in society whose activities impact on health.
On the question of research, both that which has been conducted to date and any further research that may be deemed necessary by the council, will be considered in the context of this new national policy on alcohol.
As you are aware, on assuming the Presidency of the EC Health Council on 1 January 1990, I announced that I was adopting the theme of Youth and Positive Health. In this context, I have been discussing with my colleagues in the Council the position in their countries relating to alcohol misuse and the objective of the Irish Presidency is to identify, with the assistance of the European Commission, the extent of the problem community-wide as a basis for a Community action programme to be agreed by Member States.
