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World experts
highlight true cost of drinking session
Alcohol
is a serious public health issue in Northern Ireland with
the estimated total cost of alcohol misuse here being in the
region of £700 million. With this in mind the Health Promotion
Agency has organised a major seminar, Alcohol and public
health: the best way forward, to be held tomorrow at Rosspark
Hotel, Kells, which will include speakers who are world-renowned
experts in the field of alcohol-related public health.
Research,
which will be presented at the seminar, shows that binge drinking
is a significant part of the alcohol culture in Northern Ireland.
Rob Phipps, Senior Health Promotion Manager for the Health
Promotion Agency said: "One of the main challenges for public
health in Northern Ireland is to address the issue of alcohol
misuse when the majority of drinkers do not believe they are
drinking more than is good for them.
"Recent
research shows that 70% of adults in Northern Ireland drink.
In the week before the research was carried out nearly half
the men and almost one out of three women surveyed had engaged
in a binge drinking session. These occurred mostly among 18-30
year olds and took place on Fridays and Saturdays.
"Evidence
shows that binge drinking, especially among young men, increases
the risk of strokes, as well as acute intoxication which increases
the likelihood of social costs such as fights, disturbances,
accidents and additional workload for the A&E departments
of hospitals."
The
seminar brings together a wealth of experience in the field
of alcohol and public health for those currently involved
in developing the action plan for the implementation of the
Northern Ireland Alcohol
strategy which addresses the drinking situation here.
The seminar, which includes experts from Canada, Australia
and the UK, will include looking at strategies that have been
successful in tackling alcohol issues in other countries.
The
seminar is very timely with Christmas only a few weeks away
when the majority of people will be attending office parties,
house parties or socialising at their local pub. While the
seminar is mainly for health professionals, the Agency has
taken on board the seriousness of this health issue by producing
an information leaflet for the public, Focus
on alcohol: A guide to drinking and health, which
will be available from all Boards and Trusts later this month.
END
Notes
to the editor: Binge
drinking is when a male has 10 or more units in one session
and a female has 7 or more units in one session. 1 pint of
beer = 2 units. 1 glass of wine = 1 ½ units.
The
December issue of Promoting
Health, the Agency's journal, focuses on alcohol and
is available from this website.
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