Category: Uncategorised

Do overgrown hedges kill more people than drinking and driving?

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Uncategorised

Overgrown hedges kill more people than drinking and driving! At least that’s what you believe if you listened to the media coverage of TD Michael Healy Rae protesting about the proposed introduction of stricter drink driving laws. He argues overgrown hedges are a more important factor in road traffic accidents than drink driving.

 

Healy Raes always oppose stricter drinking and driving standards

The Healy’s Rae’s are long time opponents of stricter drinking and driving rules arguing pubs are

“a place in the community where people could come together, play a game of cards, have a bit of enjoyment and have a drink or two”

Why are they so opposed to reducing the harm that alcohol causes?  Alcohol kills more people than illegal drugs or road traffic accidents. There are no figures for the number of people killed by overgrown hedges.

 

The media love sound bites

The Healy Rae’s are experts in creating soundbites that the media love.  Despite the image they deliberately create of “country bumpkins”, they are intelligent, skilled, communicators and smart businessmen. They use individual personal stories to make emotional points supporting their arguments and don’t look at the overwhelming scientific evidence.

Recently TD Danny Healy Rae stated that human global warming is a myth.

“God above is in charge of the weather and that we here can’t do anything about it”

While a number of scientists challenged this view, nobody in the media challenged the Healy Rae view that rural social life will be destroyed because of stricter laws on drinking and driving. Nobody asked why it is so essential to always drink alcohol in pubs?

 

The Healy Raes have a clear conflict of interest

With one exception nobody challenged the Healy Raes on the fact that they have a clear conflict of interest. The Healy Rae family own a pub, the Jackie Healy Rae Bar in Kilgarvan, Co. Kerry. Danny Healy Rae has even been convicted of serving people after hours.(full story here)

If people are not allowed to drink and drive, less people go to the pub because we believe we only go to the pub for alcohol.  Less drinkers reduces the profit that pubs make. So it’s not surprising the Healy Raes are against tougher drink driving laws.

 

Why can Cavan pubs provide a free taxi service?

In Cavan, forward looking pub owners provide a free taxi service for their customers and it seems to work well. Apparently though in Kerry “this is difficult”.  So what works in Cavan can’t work in Kerry.

 

Why can’t we go to the pub without drinking and driving?

There seems to be a widespread belief that going to the pub involves drinking alcohol.  Why is that?

Is it that we can’t talk to other people without alcohol?  Or that we believe we can only have fun when we’re drinking?

Or is it that many pubs appear more dingy when we’re not drinking. The shocking state of some pub toilets is more obvious when we’re not drinking.

Or is it the really poor range of non-alcoholic drinks in pubs?

In London, there is a bar which only serves non-alcoholic drinks. Can’t see that happening here anytime soon!

Is it beyond us to keep the good things about our pubs,meeting pals, the friendliness, craic and enjoyment while drinking non-alcoholic drinks?

 

Rural Life is being destroyed

Rural life is being destroyed. But not by stricter drink driving rules.  We’re not joining the dots between loneliness, drinking and suicide.

Instead, we keep making lots of  strategies and not implementing them.  Just one example, 15 years ago I was part of a team working to provide broadband in rural areas.  To-day many rural areas still don’t have broadband which is essential for all businesses. So business which could base themselves in a rural area, don’t because there is no broadband.

The development of our Lifewise training courses took much longer because Valerie lives in a part of Mayo where the broadband is really really poor. It meant it could take hours to upload videos and podcasts and often the PC would just crash and she would have to start again from scratch.

TD’s should prioritise actions for growing rural communities, promoting health and reducing the harm caused by alcohol abuse which kills three people every day.

 

Improve health & community and support our local pubs

A great example of a rural project is the woodlands for health project where people with mental health difficulties come together to walk in nature. Can publicans work  with Coilte or their local community group to sponsor community walks  and bring walkers for a cup of tea or coffee to their pubs at the end of each walk?  We have such beautiful countryside why not make more use of it and reduce our high levels of suicide, isolation and mental distress?

Finally when arguing against proposed actions to reduce alcohol harm TD’s should always disclose they have pub or alcohol industry interests in every interview.

If you’d like to read more about drink driving please click here

David ruined the wedding drinking too much

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Personal stories, The big picture, Uncategorised

A relative of mine ruined a family wedding  drinking too much. Let’s call him David. He got too loud, too boisterous, too aggressive. Arguments were had. Tears were shed.

 

Everyone was upset including David

The next day everyone was very upset. David was remorseful, cloaked in shame and regret. Those affected were in turn angry and saddened. David was ignored for a  while.
At the time, David admitted to me,  he was using drinking as a crutch. He  was using alcohol (self-medicating) to get  through a difficult time.   He was picking up the bottle rather than visiting a  GP or a counsellor.

 

David stopped drinking and people were supportive – at first

When people learned  David had stopped drinking in an attempt to address the problems that had caused the excessive drinking, everyone was very supportive. For a time. Soon it was Christmas and people began to ask if he would be having a drink. They  expressed surprise, disappointment even, when he said no.

Was he sure he didn’t want a drink?

Just one?

These were the same people who had been so disgraced by his alcohol induced behaviour at the wedding.

 

Relatives bought a crate of beer as a gift

After some time, David felt able to start drinking again, in smaller amounts, and usually just at home. When his birthday came around, relatives bought him a crate of beer as a gift. Relatives who had been at the wedding and had been appalled at his behaviour.

 

We need to support people who are trying to drink less

We need to see that posts on Facebook about ‘wine o’clock’ normalise binge drinking. We need to understand that giving alcohol as a gift can lead to drinking to excess. We need to support people who are trying to drink less.

wedding drinking

we need to stop the

‘ ah, go on you will’

Mrs Doyle inspired method of offering people a drink. We need to understand  celebrations and alcohol need not go hand in hand.

We have made many steps forward in our attitudes towards drinking. But we still need to exercise caution. Most of all we need to listen and support those who are making the brave step of trying to reduce their drinking.

 

 

Editors Note

This story really shows why it can be so difficult to drink less in Ireland.

If you’re worried about going to a wedding drinking too much, you’ll find some free good advice here.

Yesterday,  the official reports show Irish drinking has increased in 2016. So we’ve a long way to go. See here for details.

 

The better way to survive long hours. Become a working week teetotaller

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Practical tips, The big picture, Uncategorised

Teetotaller Martin Mc Guinness’s decision to step down because of health issues has been widely covered. Whatever your politics when even Ian Paisley Junior praises him, you have to accept he has made a big contribution to the peace process in Northern Ireland.

The life of a politician means very long hours and is very health and family unfriendly.

A friend who was once a politician told me people expect you to be available all of the time. Even on Christmas day for the most mundane of matters. It got to her eventually. As did the amount of time spent in endless meetings where she felt nothing was really achieved.

 

Long hours don’t mean results

I think working constant long hours is one of the reasons why so many of our big problems are not being solved. From homelessness, mortgage arrears and mental health to  hospital waiting lists.  People working very long hours tend to lose the ability to question the status quo. They don’t  notice something’s badly wrong. In the politicians case they seem to be disconnected from the reality of many people’s lives. Their acceptance of salary increases  and failure to see the Dail and Seanad needs urgent reform. (Watch or read any Dail proceeding and it will prove this point)

 

Coping with long hours by drinking

Strangely, given they are in the public eye, we’ve seen plenty of examples of drunk politicians. Remember when this politician pulled another politician into his lap in the Dail?  Or the then Taoiseach Brian Cowen infamous “Garglegate” appearance on Morning Ireland where he appeared to be hungover. The interview went viral and did not help our image of being  drunken paddies.

 

It’s incredible that our Dail has not one but two bars providing subsidised alcohol. Maybe many of our politicians cope with the long hours by drinking too much? Perhaps this is why our politicians are refusing to see the benefits of the proposed alcohol bill. Most of them are being fooled by alcohol industry lobbying and putting profits ahead of the lives of the three people drying every day from alcohol problems.

 

I drank more when working long hours

I know when I worked seventy to eight hour weeks my ability to make good decisions became weaker and weaker. I drank more. It was a way of getting instant relaxation and rewarding myself after a long hard day. I never drank too much. Not because I’m a saint or anything, but because I get horrible hangovers all too easily. So I decided to become a teetotaller during the week. It did make a difference to my ability to get through work, but ultimately I had to leave that job. I had plenty of money, but low quality of life and my health was being affected.

 

A tragic example of the impact of long hours

A really tragic example of the impact of long hours is the Stewart/Conroy case where a consultant noted incorrectly that the left kidney was to be removed on a then eight year old boy rather than the diseased right kidney. Despite the parents raising concern on four different occasions, the operating doctor removed the healthy kidney, without reviewing the X-rays.

Both doctors worked very long hours of up to 80 hours a week. Both come across as caring and responsible professionals who immediately admitted the mistake. The Medical Council still  does not appear to have addressed the issue of doctors working long hours though.

 

Airline pilots not allowed to drink for 8 hours

Officially airline pilots are not allowed to drink less than 8 hours before their shift starts. However many airlines impose a 12 hour rule, such is their concern over the impact of alcohol.

Now most of us don’t have jobs, like the surgeons or pilots where one little mistake can seriously injure or kill people, but  these examples show the serious  impact alcohol has on our ability to do our jobs properly.

 

Famous Teetotallers

As well as Martin Mc Guinness, one other  famous teetotaller includes ex Taoiseach Albert Reynolds RIP. a key player in the Northern Ireland peace process.  Very surprisingly, John Teeling the founder of  Cooley distillery whiskey is also a teetotaller.

 

Be a teetotaller during the working week

If you are working very long hours over an extended period of time, be aware your decision making ability is probably impaired.  Not just in your working life but in your personal life as well. Drinking while working long hours will make this worse.

If you’re stuck in a rut and don’t feel able to take action to change the long hours, do seek professional help. If this is not an option try to get some physical exercise.  Pick something you enjoy. Once a week is good and better than nothing.  However for real benefits, aim for  3 times a week.

Being a teetotaller, at least during  the working week  will also make those long hours easier to survive.

 

You’re pregnant, my friend screamed when I stopped drinking

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Personal stories, Social Life, Uncategorised

I stopped drinking

I stopped drinking around April of this year. Apart from the big lifestyle change itself, one of the toughest aspects of the whole process was that people noticed… And wanted answers.

 

Are you pregnant?

“Are you pregnant!?!?”  One friend shrieked, in a voice that was much too loud for the restaurant we were in.  Others did the awkward ‘ohhh‘ followed by a tentative inquiry as to why. My solution?  It was to be as honest or vague as I felt my relationship with that person warranted. Overall though, some small degree of honest communication usually worked, even if it was just “Health Reasons.”

 

My best friends became non-alcoholic drinks

Social circles do get smaller when you quit the drink, and I dealt with this by offering other ways of keeping those bonds.  My best friend became non-alcoholic drinks during this period. There’s a sense of inclusion to drinking, and with non-alcoholic ciders, I could sit around with my friends while they’ve got their wine.

 

I’m not throwing off the vibe of the group

The best part? I still feel like I’m not throwing off the vibe of the group by being the only one without ‘a drink’.  But this can make it easy to cheat, I devised a new strategy. In some cases, offering alternative ways to socialise showed that I was interested in seeing these friends, but in a way we could all enjoy. I’m happy to report that most of them responded positively to it.

 

Good people were supportive

All in all, I found that people were wonderfully willing to accept and support me.  And if some were pushy or unsupportive instead, I sadly had to realise that they were not the best people to have around me at the time.

….And I’m pretty sure the wait staff in that restaurant still think I’m pregnant.

 

 

If you’d like to find out more about non-alcoholic drinks please click here.

Want to help change drinking culture? Become a Lifewise writer

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Uncategorised

Each Lifewise writer gives a different view of the  alcohol problem.

 

Some Lifewise writers have gone public.

Lucy who founded Soberistas our partner discussion board gave up drinking entirely.

Valerie nearly killed herself and no longer drinks herself. She helps other women using a harm reduction approach where you reduce your drinking but don’t give up drinking entirely. She’s the voice behind many of our courses.

 

Others write under a pen name

Beanyneamy is a student and gives the views of a 20 something year old.

Southlady gives the view of someone who drinks because of anxiety.

 

Become a Lifewise writer

We’re looking for more people to become a Lifewise writer. You don’t have to be a published writer. You just need to be able to write in a way that interests our readers.

You don’t have to an expert. If you have a drink problem you don’t  have be in control of your drinking. You just need to have something to say about the way alcohol is used in our society.

It is very important your writing comes across as warm and supportive with no judgement of people who drink too much.

Very often people who drink too much feel isolated, ashamed and alone. Here in Lifewise, we aim to change this. There is no shame, judgement or criticism here. Just support from people who know what  it’s like to have a drink problem.

 

How often do I have to write?

There are no deadlines. We simply ask you to commit to writing 5 different posts of at least 300 words each.

 

What do I have to do?

All you have to do is write your first 300 word piece and send it to us at info(@)lifewise.ie. We’ll quickly let you know whether we can publish. To help you we’ve even published some guidelines for writing here.

So don’t wait, start today by clicking here.

 

 

 

Carlsberg hangover anyone?

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The big picture, Uncategorised

Missing the Euros?  Hardly surprising .  A massive 84% of Irish people tuned in to the Euro championships and advertisers took full advantage to target consumers. Livewire estimate over €4 million was spent on advertising during the tournament. Much of the spend went on gambling and alcohol.Carlsberg was a big advertiser using TV and social media really well.

 

Probably

Alcohol advertising   is banned in France. Carlsberg cleverly got around this by showing the picture above with the word “probably” rather than Carlsberg.  This slogan appeared on the backdrop behind all interviews with footballers and their managers. A quick check with some of my pals showed they all recognised this as a Carlsberg brand, even though none of them are beer drinkers.

 

Diehard fans drink more

Most viewers are casual,  but the 21% of viewers -the diehard fans, who watch every game spent 39% more on alcohol. This shows how watching football is now  strongly linked to drinking. It’s as if you can’t have fun watching football unless you’re drinking.

 

Carlsberg are good at getting you to drink more

Carlsberg are masters of advertising as  Econsultancy describes

“I don’t  even like the taste, but somehow I end up drinking it”

They generated over 55% of the Irish sponsor chat on Twitter using witty slogans,  such as

“we leave it there so“

when Ireland got beaten by France.

Livewire found 22% of people who are aware of the sponsorship are more likely to purchase Carlsberg.

 

No mention of the downsides

As I’ve described in this post, alcohol advertising aims to creates myths about the benefits of alcohol. That alcohol is an activity that does no harm, that you can’t have fun without alcohol.  That problems with alcohol are normal and nothing to be worried about. That alcohol transforms you and makes you more attractive. That sports and alcohol go together and much much more.

 

Young children are being targeted

So with all this advertising around us, selling us the benefits of  alcohol,  it’s no wonder we’re drinking too much.  Even children as young as 8 years believe drinking is an essential part of being Irish according to one study.

 

Ban all alcohol promotions

The facts are that alcohol promotion encourages people to drink more. Why would the alcohol industry spend so much on it if it did not work? We don’t allow other drugs to be advertised, yet they kill far less people than alcohol as the image below shows.

carlsberg

 

 

Open your eyes

You might think banning alcohol promotion is an over reaction.  But try this exercise for just one day. Every time you see something   alcohol  related note whether it’s positive or negative.

Positive mentions

  • A brand name on any clothing for example  t-shirt, hat, sweatshirts, sports tops etc
  • A brand name  on merchandise, for example bags, key rings, glasses etc
  • Any advertising on radio, outdoor  billboards, TV, social media etc
  • Any mentions  of alcohol as fun either by your friends, your social media, or TV/radio- “great night, we all got wasted”
  • Any mentions of alcohol in songs you hear  e.g I get knocked down

 

Negative mentions

  • Any mention of harm from alcohol e.g some one talking about their alcohol problem
  • Any warnings about  drinking too much alcohol
  • Any advertising for alcohol treatment centres

 

At the end of the day,(pun intended!) are the negative or positives higher? Unless you’re living in a monastery with no access to the outside world, nearly all the time you’ll find the positives are much higher.

Even the other day going up the Hellfire club in the Dublin mountains, at the very top was a bundle of empty beer cans.

 

 Avoid the hangover

Being  aware of how much the outside world is influencing a positive attitude to drinking  and giving you the wrong messages about drinking is a great tool to help  manage your drinking.