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I'm a U.S. citizen who came over to Ireland and Northern Ireland in the summer of 07. I traveled to Dublin, Sligo, Connemara, Inishmore and Galway while in the south and Derry and Belfast while in the North.

While I understand the very large differences in the "alcohol culture" between our countries, and have no problem whatsoever with alcohol myself, I too noticed the large number of news stories and articles on binge drinking and its effects while there.

While on Connelly street in Dublin at around 23:00, my wife and I watched countless young teenagers (13, 14 and upward) stumble down the street. One young group of girls had an even younger group of guys following them down the road and grabbing at their clothes while they tried to trip along to their bus.

This type of consumption is incredibly dangerous for so many reasons I don't feel need listed here.

In addition to this, looking at the seeming identity crisis among young males in the North (and the alarmingly fast rising suicide rate among them) it would seem that binge drinking could only worsen this problem.

I hope something is done so that the youth in particular don't fall headlong into traps they may not even realize are there...

I look forward to viewing your new television documentary on society’s relationship with alcohol especially here in N Ireland.
I was visiting a friend in hospital last week who was brought into hospital and was in A&E before being sent to a ward. He told me that out of the 10 patients who were in A&E at the time 4 were there because of drink related problems.
We have a very serious problem with alcohol in this country yet there seems to be little done about it. Is this because we look at it in different ways? Some people say it is the fault of the person in other words if they did not drink so much they would not have a problem. Others say it is a disease. Whatever way we look at it we all must agree that it ruins lives splits up marriages kills people in road accidents causes crime blocks up hospital beds etc.
Here are a few questions I would like answers to.

•Are alcoholics self abusers or are they medically ill?
•Why is it so easy to buy alcohol and so cheap?
•How much does the Government make from alcohol each year and could this be the reason it is easy to purchase?
•Alcohol must be the No1 killer in N Ireland yet we can see on our streets every weekend throughout N Ireland children with brown bags full of cheap alcohol, who is selling it to them?
•Why are the PNSI not doing more to stop this? Could it be that they do not have enough manpower or finances to stop them?
•Why is the danger of alcohol not being taught in our schools?
•Why are there so few places for alcoholics to find expert help especially in country areas of N Ireland? There are only a few places like Armagh and Downpatrick (and there are only limited places) there used to be one in Newry but it is now closed or closing.
•Are we as a society doing enough to help alcoholics or are we content to ignore them until someone we know is affected by alcohol?

I personally think alcohol addiction is a disease and not enough is being done to help and treat people suffering from it. I also think more places are urgently needed to help treat alcoholics especially in towns outside Belfast.

Last time I looked Israel had both the highest proportion of drinkers and the lowest proportion of liver cirrohsis sufferers.

howzat?

Answer would be found in exploring jewish culture, I think.

Could hold some valuable lessons perhaps.

PB