Doctor in binge drink warning

The Irish community in the UK are the only ethnic minority who experience worse health in Britain than in their homeland, according to a leading British-based public health official.

Dr Gabriel Scally, regional director of public health for south-west England, said smoking and drinking are the main causes of the ill health afflicting the Irish community.

The trends have been passed on from Irish immigrants to second and even third generation Irish in Britain, he added.

Yesterday Dr Scally appealed for restraint during the St Patrick's Day celebration saying people need to begin to examine their habits.

"It would be a warning that I would extend to the Irish in Britain but I guess also to people in general over St Patrick's day. The festival has become synonymous with alcohol and I would say that that is not the way it should be," he said.

"As an Irishman I too will be raising a glass of the black stuff to St Patrick on March 17th but my concern is that too many people are indulging in binge drinking which can do serious damage to their health.

"A couple of glasses of stout or wine with friends can do wonders for your emotional and social well-being but drinking until you drop is a risky venture."

Dr Scally, who was born in Belfast and is now based in Bristol, said evidence suggests Irish men and women in the UK are more likely than any other ethnic group to drink in excess of the recommended guidelines.

Thirty four per cent of Irish men and 19 per cent of Irish women drink in excess of recommended levels. This compares to 27 per cent of men and 17 per cent of women, of all nationalities in Britain who drink more than the recommended weekly limit of 21 and 14 units per week for men and women respectively.

Dr Scally said while all the research indicates the Irish in Britain are more prone to excess, there is little to explain why.

But smoking and drinking habits have led to a significant rate of heart and lung disease amongst immigrants and their offspring.

The doctor delivered a lecture to the Royal College of Physicians, Dublin, last year highlighting the fact that Irish immigrants drink more than other groups.

The Irish also experience more mental health problems, which are often linked to excessive drinking. Drinking habits also lead to higher incidents of injury and conditions such as diabetes, he said.

Binge drinking can also contribute to liver cancer, strokes, pancreatitis, high blood pressure and fertility problems.

The rise in deaths from cirrhosis amongst younger people is of particular concern and binge-drinking patterns appear to be common, he added.

Alcohol misuse is implicated in 40 per cent of violent crimes in Britain, 39 per cent of deaths by fire, 15 per cent of drownings and one in seven road accidents.