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Alcohol Action Ireland, the national charity for alcohol-related issues, urged parents of Leaving Certs to talk with their children about celebratory plans as part of the organisation's general appeal to students to take care and stay safe. The charity's director Fiona Ryan urged parents to be aware of their teenagers' post-exam plans and to discuss simple 'stay safe' guidelines with their children. She said:   "It's natural young people are looking forward to celebrating the end of a tough exam season.... Full Story

Strategy underlines effectiveness of policies regarding pricing, availability and marketing of alcohol Alcohol Action Ireland, the national charity for alcohol-related issues, today backed the World Health Organisation's strategy to reduce the harms from alcohol.   Director Fiona Ryan said: "This is an important step that recognizes the impact of alcohol-related harms and provides a strategy for tackling them.     "Ireland is unfortunately familiar with all forms of alcohol-related harm and pays a heavy price for that familiarity."   One of the key elements... Full Story

Alcohol Action Ireland, the national charity for alcohol related issues, today praised a government report on young carers but warned that children looking after alcohol-dependent parents were at even more risk because of the hidden nature of the problem. The charity's director Fiona Ryan said: "This report shows that young carers are a vulnerable group of children and the more hidden the child, the more vulnerable the child. The shame, stigma and denial that go with alcohol problems in families,... Full Story

Alcohol Action Ireland, the national charity for alcohol related issues, today voiced alarm that Ireland was again top of the European binge drinking league with one in four of us downing five drinks or more in one sitting in the previous month - double the European average. Alcohol Action Ireland's Policy Development Officer Cliona Murphy said: "Binge drinking affects all ages but young people are the group most likely to binge drink on a regular weekly basis. Binge drinking puts... Full Story

Alcohol Action Ireland's Cliona Murphy made the closing remarks at a seminar on The Social Cost of Alcohol in the European Parliament on the 2nd February 2010. You can listen at   http://www.eurocare.org/press/previous_events/the_social_cost_of_alcohol_passive_drinking_02_02_2010   

Alcohol Action Ireland, the national charity for alcohol-related issues, says it is shocked and surprised at Budget plans to cut excise on alcohol by as much as 60 cent. Speaking after Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan's Budget 2010 speech, Acting Director Cliona Murphy said: “Reducing excise is bad news for the Irish economy.” Ms Murphy said: “At a time when the Minister is cutting supports for the most needy and vulnerable, he is proposing major cuts in excise on a... Full Story

With just days to go before Budget 2010, Alcohol Action Ireland, the national charity for alcohol-related issues, has revealed that Irish adults would prefer an increase in excise duty on alcohol above increases in income tax, tax on petrol and cuts in child benefit. Renewing her call for the Government to take simple and cost-effective measures to reduce the high levels of alcohol-related harms and costs, Acting Director Ms Murphy said: “Recently commissioned research[i] from Alcohol Action Ireland has highlighted... Full Story

Alcohol Action Ireland, the national charity for alcohol-related issues, has welcomed the launch of a new alcohol service for Accident & Emergency patients. Speaking following the launch of alcohol screening in a number of Ireland's A&E Departments, Acting Director of Alcohol Action Ireland, Cliona Murphy said: “One in four injury admissions to A&E are alcohol-related. Emergency departments are an ideal venue to screen for harmful and hazardous drinking.” “This service supports A&E staff to intervene early on, offering brief advice,... Full Story

Alcohol Action Ireland, the national charity for alcohol-related issues, today called on the Government to act on behalf of children affected by parental alcohol problems, following the publication of the SLÁN report, which reveals that over half of all drinkers reported a harmful pattern of drinking. Speaking after the release of new data from the Survey of Lifestyle, Attitude and Nutrition (SLÁN), Acting Director Cliona Murphy called for future SLAN reports to collect data on harmful drinking by parents, so... Full Story

Alcohol Action Ireland, the national charity for alcohol-related issues, has called for the Government to examine the extent and impact of parental alcohol problems on children and to provide accessible, joined up services to children and families affected by a parent's alcohol problems. Acting Director, Cliona Murphy, called for children and families to be put at the centre of the forthcoming National Substance Misuse Strategy. Speaking following the release of a Health Research Board report - which identified the impact... Full Story