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Rapid Responses: Rapid Responses published:
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Alcohol and services for Irish people in Britain
- Mary R. Tilki (24 March 2006)
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Alcohol misuse
- JK Anand (26 March 2006)
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Mary R. Tilki, Principal Lecturer Middlesex University, Queensway, EN3 4SA
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I greatly welcome Rahul Rao's attention to the dangerous levels of alcohol consumption in the Irish (and Sikh) community in Britain. However I take issue about progress in the development of culturally appropriate services for Irish people. Despite robust evidence of high levels of consumption, a link between alcohol and mental ill-health and excesses of suicide among Irish people in Britain, the level of neglect by statutory providers is an engima. It is fair to say that a small number of examples of good practice can be found in Irish voluntary sector organisations in Britain but these have developed in response to an absence of mainstream provision. They are funded predominantly by the Irish government and with few exceptions receive no support from UK mainstream authorities. The fear of being seen as racist by providing alcohol services for Irish people might well be a barrier. However evidence from a Health Impact Assessment undertaken by the Federation of Irish Societies (Glackin 2004) points more towards institutional racism. The impact assessment undertaken in collaboration with the London Health Observatory, demonstrates lack of awareness of and committment to Irish health need by PCTs. It shows an absence of ethnic monitoring using an Irish category, as well as failure to consult, communicate or work in partnership with Irish voluntary sector organisations. Strategies to address alcohol at national level are equally neglectful and reflecting either a lack of understanding of how to approach the problem or racist neglect of a minority ethnic community. Notwithstanding the requirements of the Race Relations Amendment Act, there is a strong business case for tackling alcohol misuse among Irish people given the evidence of seriously elevated levels of physical and mental ill-health and suicide. Alcohol is a sensitive issue for Irish people but the Federation of Irish Societies or its affiliated organisations are well placed to advise, support and in some cases to provide culturally specific services to address the issue. All that is absent is the committment. Glackin D (2004) The Federation of Irish Societies Health Impact Assessment of the Irish voluntary sector and their partner Primary Care Trusts. London. Federation of Irish Societies. Competing interests: None declared |
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JK Anand, Retired Not applicable
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Dr Rao uses states: "alcohol misuse cannot be tackled using a broad population approach without culturally appropriate services to meet the needs of minority ethnic groups." He goes on to call for more ethnographic research. Surely it should be obvious that money is limited. Put more money in to research and you will find that you have not got enough money left for treatment. Alcohol misuse could be cut down by making alcohol more costly (by taxing it heavily) and less freely available (by restricting opening times of pubs and off-licences and by closing down such premises in areas of high deprivation). If the mother of parliaments could light up the path to abstinence by closing its liquor bars, and the Royal Colleges could ask their members and fellows to "sign the pledge" of abstinence, the people would follow suit. I would. My suggestion would help all sections of the UK population. JK Anand Competing interests: None declared |
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