The former governor of Mountjoy Prison is calling for a “tougher” attitude to alcohol, describing it as one of the major dangers facing young people today.
John Lonergan, who spoke recently in Ballinasloe at an event organised by the Ballinasloe Substance Misuse Response Group, said he felt “very, very strongly” about alcohol companies “taking over” the sponsorship of major sporting events.
“We’ve got to break this cycle and connection,” he said. “It’s amazing that alcohol companies are sponsoring all sporting occasions.”
Calling for greater education about the dangers of alcohol and a tougher attitude to it, he stated he was concerned that “every single activity” in Ireland centred around alcohol.
“How can you tell the young not to drink and then you go to a GAA club [function] and everyone is under the influence? The first thing the manager of a club will say on January 1 is that alcohol and smoking is out. Yet when a match is over they go to the club and celebrate.”
Speaking to this newspaper he said parents must be more vigilant about alcohol in the home.
“It is important that young people do not see alcohol as an outlet, that they have other activities. We know that the young get alcohol easily. At home parents should be more vigilant with alcohol in the house. Also, drink should not be sold to young people.”
He said parents should also lead by example. If they are drinking too much then they will have very little credibility in relation to advising their children about the dangers of alcohol.
“Example is a huge factor. If you are drinking every night then you will have very little credibility when it comes to talking to your children about drink.”
Mr Lonergan, who retired in 2010 as governor of Mountjoy Prison and is originally from Co Tipperary, said once young people hit their teenage years parents cannot control their access to alcohol.
“But you’ve got to get them to understand that alcohol can have major implications in relation to their health, including addiction. Young people are far more prone to addiction because they are drinking so young.”
Providing sporting and other activities in local communities is one of the keys to keeping teenagers “out of trouble”, he believes.
“If you can keep young people occupied it is a big plus. If there is a youth centre in a community they can go there and play pool or listen to music. I’m a great advocate of the creative arts, drama, etc.
“One of the great scourges for many young people, especially in winter, is that they have nothing to do. If you have nothing to do your chances of getting into trouble increase. The young need to be kept active, to be kept occupied. Lots of times there is often nothing to do or nowhere to go.”
He said communities can play a tremendously positive role in helping young people. “I remember in Finglas there was a very serious problem one year after the Junior Cert results came out. A lof of young people got drunk. There was huge uproar. The next year all the parents came together and organised a disco and it was a very, very successful night. It was under the supervision of adults and was an example of how a community can respond to an issue and form an alternative.”
