Warning to men on problem drinking

[Posted: Mon 13/06/2011 by Deborah Condon www.irishhealth.com]

One in four deaths involving young men in Ireland is due to alcohol, the charity, Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) has warned.

It is urging men to be aware of their drinking habits as part of Men's Health Week, which runs from June 13-19.

According to the charity, men are advised to drink no more than 21 standard drinks a week - the equivalent of roughly 10 pints of regular beer. Yet seven in 10 men who consume alcohol drink in a way that is damaging to their health, for example by drinking too much overall or by drinking too much in one sitting (binge drinking).

The charity notes that one in 10 cancers in men is caused by alcohol, while one in four deaths involving men aged 15-34 is due to drink. Meanwhile, one in five men aged 18-23 have been pushed, hit or assaulted in the past year as a result of someone else's drinking.

"Men in Ireland drink at levels and in ways that are bad for their health and lifestyle. Anyone who plays sport knows that alcohol is bad for your performance on and off the pitch. Men also tend to ignore health issues until those issues become real problems," commented AAI board member, Dr Joe Barry.

The charity has launched a new information leaflet asking men to look at their drinking.

"This leaflet is about asking men to take a look at their drinking and, if needed, put in place a few easy steps to help cut down," Dr Barry said.

For more information on AAI and the new leaflet, click here. For more information on Men's Health Week, click here

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