Friday, May 2, 2008

Irish's demon drink

by Rifhan Rasuli


I was not surprised at all when I read last week’s front-page report of Herald Am (Ireland’s daily tabloid that is distributed for free) entitled ‘Demon Drink’ which reveals the devastating effects of alcohol in Ireland. Irish are well-known for their love and passion for drinking. The percentage increase in per capita alcohol consumption in Ireland from 1989 to 1999 is 40%, far surpassing other EU countries, whose increases do not even exceed 10%.

A study done by Health Service Executive (HSE) indicates that there was a 92% increase in the number of people being admitted into the hospitals due to alcohol-related illness in just seven years. What a rise! As the matter of fact, in Ireland, drinking is the cause of 36.5% of fatal crashes, 25% of severe domestic abuse cases, 28% of accident and emergency (A&E) cases and 46% of murder.

Liver cancer, whose main cause is alcohol, had the highest increase between 1994 and 2003 compared to other types of cancer. To make things worse, according to the study, the harm brought by the alcohol is not only confined to the drinkers, but also extends to others, like physical injuries and death.

A study on student drinking behaviour in Ireland shows that 95% of male students and 93% of female students take alcohol. But rest assure, we Malaysian students here have never ever taken alcohol at all (hopefully).

Drinking has been a big social problem in this country. Quite a lot of suggestions and actions being implemented, but still, such a problem seems to be insolvable.

In my health and behaviour lecture, I was taught about seven habits for a healthy life – one of them is drink moderately. I always wanted to ask the lecturer every time this kind of topic is brought up in the class, “What if we don’t drink at all? It would be better, wouldn’t it?”

Of course, the harms inflicted by alcohol are far surpassing its benefits. That is why in Islam, drinking is strictly forbidden and labelled as one of the big sins as stated in the Koran in the Surah al-Ma’idah: 90.

“O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination – of Satan’s handiwork; eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper.”

Nevertheless, if we look at the law enforcement, Ireland is very committed in limiting its people from drinking alcohol, perhaps in certain aspects, better than what is done back in my own homeland. Alcohol is only sold at the off license counter in the mall. In other words, you will not see alcohol among other stuffs sold there. It must be placed at a special section. And in order for you to buy alcohol or enter the pub, you must be at least 18 years old. Identification card must be shown to verify that you are over 18. If you do not have that, no way you can get even a glass of beer.

Despite all these efforts, still, alcohol is a widespread problem in Ireland. Well, perhaps because it is their culture to drink liquor, and there is no clear prohibition in their religion concerning this demon drink.

Thinking back about this, we should be grateful, as the only reason that we are slightly better than these people is because we are Muslims. Without Islam, perhaps we are just the same like those alcoholics, or maybe worse.

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