Letters to the Editor.

ALCOHOL ABUSE FAR BIGGER DRUG CRUX.

Sir I have been following with great interest the suggestions put forward
on how best to reduce the current road death epidemic. As someone involved
in the nightclub entertainment for some years now, I feel my views might
be of some worth.

I am somewhat bemused by the most recent outcry against the imminent
enforcement of EU directives on drink driving. My experience and
observations have led me to come to the conclusion that there is neither
the spirit nor the will to enforce the existing law.

Without wanting to sound alarmist, the paranoia of the socalled drugs
epidemic pales into insignificance, against the endemic acceptance of
alcohol in Ireland at present.

This country revolves around alcohol.

That is not to say that there is not a drug problem; there clearly is, but
as someone who is in the supposed 'front line' of drug culture the
nightclubs alcohol abuse far outweighs drug abuse. I have seen more
problems arising out of overconsumption of alcohol than from drug use.

Go through your local papers and see the number of solicitors citing
alcohol as an explanation of their clients' 'out of character behaviour'.

I neither smoke nor drink and am against the use of all drugs.

It is, however, my firm belief that alcohol is a very big ingredient in the
problem that we are seeing on our roads today, and it is exacerbated by the
reactive rather than the proactive approach of the gardai. Two arguments
are used against further reduction in the limit, one is economic, job
losses, and the other is invasion of social activity poor excuses indeed
to the relatives of the 27 people killed on our roads in one week.

Paul O'Sullivan,

Mountcharles, Co Donegal.