‘Neknomination’ craze will cost more lives

THE head of one of Ireland’s largest mental health hospitals has warned that the online

‘Neknomination’ drinking craze will cost more lives.

Speaking after the death of popular GAA teen, Jonny Byrne in Carlow, the CEO of the Southside-based St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, Paul Gilligan, said 17 to 25-year-old young adults were the most vulnerable to the dangerous activity.

‘Neknomination’ is a social media drinking

‘game’ in which people are nominated by a friend to down alcohol and post a video of themselves online.

Mr Gilligan said there was a need to educate young people on the short and long-term effects of alcohol consumption, and the risks of binge drinking behaviours

“that have become commonplace in Ireland

?.

“We need to look towards introducing the cultural attitude of alcohol use as opposed to alcohol misuse,

? Mr Gilligan said.

“This needs to be done early and by the people who have an impact on young people’s lives.

?

According to Mr Gilligan, Ireland continues to rank among the highest consumers of alcohol in the EU.

In the most recent survey of drinking among European 15 and 16-year-olds, it was found that Irish children binge drink more than their counterparts of the same age.

The report of the Steering Group on National Substance Misuse Strategy also reveals that the average Irish adult drank 11.9 litres of pure alcohol in 2010, corresponding to 482 pints of lager, 125 bottles of wine or 45 bottles of vodka per year.

Professor Jim Lucey, Medical Director at St Patrick’s, added:

“Ongoing abuse of alcohol is in itself a major contributory factor in depression and suicidal behaviour.

“Viral games such as this contribute to a normalisation of binge alcohol use and have long-term negative effects on the mental health of our young people.

?

Mr Gilligan pointed out that young adulthood was a difficult and challenging time for many people.

“External pressures from peers can leave many young people feeling vulnerable and exposed,

? he stated.

“In this age of viral social media we have an urgent responsibility to educate young people to ensure they have the knowledge and confidence to identify dangerous alcohol-related behaviour and to stop such trends before they begin.

?

Southside Senator, Catherine Noone (FG), also called for young people to think twice about the risks of binge drinking, and especially social media drinking games before taking part in them.

“It’s important that people understand how dangerous online dares like the so-called

‘neknominations’ can be,

? she said.

“Challenging your friends to drink large amounts of alcohol in a short time is neither smart nor cool. It is risky, potentially damaging to your health, and according to some reports, can even have fatal consequences.

“Young people should watch out for each other, and make sure that their friends don’t succumb to peer-pressure and make short-term, spur of the moment decisions that end up changing their lives for the worse,

? she added.

“There’s nothing wrong with socialising and having a good time, but binge-drinking of any kind rarely has a good outcome for anyone.

“As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald, has pointed out, we have a long way to go to de-normalise binge drinking among young Irish people.

?