The Government is just as guilty as the deluded population it serves for ignoring a seemingly terminal problem with alcohol, writes Terence Cosgrave.
IT can seem comical to the outside observer that the alcoholic is so blind to their addiction. But this alcoholic myopia is essential to maintain the illusion of non-dependence, and therefore, normality.
The families of alcoholics know this. The alcoholic can deal with any problem as long they can have a drink. If the drink is costing too much and the family can't afford it, the alcoholic thinks, "I have to get cheaper drink" – not what the non-alcoholic would think, which is the logical answer, "I have to give up alcohol".
It would be similar to a situation, for example, where a government was faced with a difficult problem, and rather than tackle the core element of that problem, it issued a policy document of platitudes and palaver that did everything but face down the real issue.
Oh wait, that just happened with the launch of Healthy Ireland, a document that promises much, but in fact just lays out the paving stones of good intentions for a road to hell, rather than health.
Source: Terence Cosgrave, Irish Independent, 07/04/2013
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