Alcohol Care

Making your visit enjoyable and safe is at the heart of Carnival Care and by supporting our city centre alcohol - free zone you can ensure our City Celebrations continue to be family friendly.

Teenagers and young adults are particularly at risk from alcohol and we hope this information will help you plan your celebrations making sure everyone can enjoy outdoor events in the City.

Who cares about alcohol?

A Department of Health and Social Services survey in 2001 also found that by the age of 16, 90% of young people in Northern Ireland have drunk alcohol.
The Foyle Underage Drinking research points out that access to alcohol is not seen as a problem for young people, whatever their age, with 14/15 year olds more likely to obtain it from off-licences and 16 and 17 year olds going to pubs and clubs.

Ireland is listed as having one of the highest levels of binge drinking among the 15-16 year age group. In a recent European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Drugs 1 in 4 young people in Ireland and the UK claim they have been drunk 20 times within the previous 30 days.

Alcohol is seen by many young people as normal and a necessary part of social life. Attitudes and behaviour needs to change so that sensible behaviour is encouraged at celebratory events.

No one likes a drunk

Alcohol can lead to imminent danger to yourself and others as it increases the likelihood of fights, disturbances, illness and accidents. Binge drinking, which experts tell us, is more than five drinks in one session can cause a lack of consciousness and over time increase the chance of stroke/ heart attack, brain, kidney and liver problems.

Binge Drinking

A new binge drinking awareness campaign has been launched by the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) http://www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk/ to encourage the public to think about how much they drink and to know the limits when it comes to alcohol.

Research carried out by the HPA showed many people in Northern Ireland did not know what amount of alcohol actually causes damage and constitutes a binge. Binge drinking does not mean prolonged bouts of drinking that can last for weeks, but is defined as drinking at least 10 units of alcohol for men (about five drinks) and at least seven units of alcohol for women (about four drinks) in a single session
It is recommended that men drink no more than 3 to 4 units of alcohol a day and no more than 21 units over the course of a week while for women it is recommended they drink no more than 2 to 3 units of alcohol a day and no more than 14 units over the course of a week. Drinking above the daily limits every day puts health at risk.

Facts

Young People and Alcohol

44% of young people in Northern Ireland admitted to having their first alcoholic drink aged between 11 – 13 years with 15% of young people admitting to being 10 or younger when they had their first alcoholic drink. (Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency 2004).

By the age of 16, 90% of young people in Northern Ireland have drunk alcohol (source: Drinking, Smoking and Illicit Drug Use Amongst 15 & 16 Year Old School Students in Northern Ireland, DHSS, 2001).

Two thirds of 15 & 16 year olds regularly drink alcohol in Northern Ireland (source: Drinking, Smoking and Illicit Drug Use Amongst 15 & 16 Year Old School Students in Northern Ireland, DHSS, 2001).

17% of young people have had an alcoholic drink by age 11 (source: Young People’s Behaviour & Attitudes Survey, DHSS, 2001).

Alcohol use is seen by many young people as a normal and necessary part of social life- even an entitlement, (Foyle Underage Drinking Study).

Access to alcohol is not seen as a problem for young people whatever their age. 14/15 year olds are more likely to get it from off-licences. 16 and 17 year olds take part in club/pub life. Young people do not seem to accept the 18-year age limit. (Foyle Underage Drinking Study).

The UK, Denmark, Poland and Ireland have the highest levels of binge drinking among 15 and 16 year olds (Alcohol Concern report on Stockholm Conference).

1 in 4 young people in Ireland and the UK claim they have been drunk 20 times within the previous 30 days (European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Drugs).

After drinking, one in seven young people have had unprotected sex.

40% of 13 and 14 year olds were ‘drunk or stoned’ when they had their first sexual experience.

Binge Drinking

It is common in both male and female adults aged 18 – 29. In a survey carried out by the Health Promotion Agency, 1999, it was found that 72% of those who had drunk alcohol in the last seven days had engaged in binge drinking.

Binge drinking is defined as having 10 or more units in one sitting for men (5 drinks) and 7 or more units (4 drinks) for women. (HPA, 1999)

Binge drinking is associated with severe impairments of judgement and acute intoxication. It is known to increase the likelihood of fights, disturbances, accidents and long term ill health.

Young People and Drugs

The survey suggests very widespread access to and use of cannabis with nearly a quarter of all 13-14 year olds having used this drug.

The Behaviour of School Children in Northern Ireland study (HBSC) shows that the average age of first being offered a drug is 13 years.

The most common sites of injury were the wrist or hand (56%) and the face, head or neck area (18%). (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.