CHURCH REPORT ON ALCOHOL ABUSE EMPHASISES ROLE OF FAMILIES

The launch of the Church in Society Committee's report on "Alcohol in the Life of Young People" took place in Church of Ireland House yesterday.

The report was prepared by the Social Justice and Theology Group (Republic of Ireland), a subsection of the Church in Society Committee. It laid particular emphasis on the role that families play in educating young people in the dangers of alcohol. The report says "probably the best hope lies in the family where adults can give a positive example to children."

Amongst the reports recommendations are more 'alcohol councillors' in the community directly associated with GP practices rather than with psychiatric services which are seen as difficult to access and stigmatising. It also recommends the banning of advertising of alcopops, that parents should be encouraged to inculcate a responsible attitude to drinking in the home and that parents should also take a greater interest in what children are doing outside the home.

The audience at the launch heard the Chairman of the Church in Society Committee, the Right Reverend Michael Jackson, Bishop of Clogher praise the report for its recognition of the problem as a societal problem and not one that is restricted to ages or social class. He said that the report was short enough to be informative but large enough to have substance.

The Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd Robin Eames quoted a number of statistics from the report including that in the Republic 65% of boys aged between 15 and 17 said that they binge drink and that Irish consumption was the highest in the EU. He added that the British experiment of 24 hour opening raises very serious questions.

The Very Revd Gordon Wynne, Dean of Leighlin and Chairman of the Social Justice and Theology Panel of the Church and society committee particularly commended the pupils of Muine Beag Vocational School who had provided invaluable information for the report. "A report like this must be rooted or it lacks authenticity. We received wonderful co-operation from the school" he said.

The event was attended by many of the Bishops of the Church of Ireland including the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr John Neill.

The report is available from Lucy Connolly at Church of Ireland House, Church Avenue, Rathmines Dublin 6 (lucy.connolly@rcbdub.org).

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