The Donegal-based Alcohol Forum are set to challenge Ireland’s alcohol culture at their annual conference in Letterkenny next week.
On November 10th in the LYIT, speakers from Ireland and America will explore the historical, social and cultural factors which have shaped and maintained Ireland’s problematic relationship with drink. They will also examine how notions of culture are exploited by alcohol marketing.
The Fourth National Conference of the Alcohol Forum aims to challenge the accepted belief that the way people in Ireland drink is a central part of our identity and culture. They will examine the price paid for this drinking culture – which is that 88 people die every month in the country because of alcohol.
The Alcohol Forum is a national charity delivering a range projects with children, families, and communities across Ireland aimed at reducing and preventing the many harms from alcohol misuse.
Speaking about the conference, CEO Kieran Doherty highlights the importance of bringing more people into the debate. “In Ireland, it has largely fallen to the health service alone to respond to the growing crisis of alcohol harm.
“This conference aims to build on this work and support wider sectoral and public engagement in understanding and reducing alcohol harm.”
The conference will open on the evening of Thursday 9 November with a special screening of the critically acclaimed film ‘Emerald City’.
Colin Broderick’s first feature film about a ‘hard living crew of Irish construction workers’ in New York has been gaining rave reviews on the international film festival circuit.
Colin will host his film in Letterkenny and take part in a discussion afterwards on the impact alcohol can have on families. If you want to buy tickets for either event, they are available on www.alcoholforum.org.
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