"Why do Irish people drink? Because sober people write whiny letters while they're on holidays. And skinny people never get their round in. And Hans Christian Andersen wrote rubbish stories. And Carlsberg tastes like donkey wee. And mind the saloon doors don't smack you on your skinny little bottom as you leave."
Al C O'Holic
Despite the fact that Dublin's daily "Metro" (distributed for free) encourages readers to include their full name in the emails sent to the editor, the author of the above email is anonymous.
The outrage is an answer to a Danish guy Christian who after arriving to Ireland after 10 years came to conclusion that the only difference he notices is the fact that there are more men with beer bellies and women with spare tires. This slapping of a Celtic tiger did not stay unnoticed.
"One must be blind not to notice the level of binge drinking in this
country: girls crawling from pubs on their knees and men taking a leak
wherever possible. Have you ever tried to walk in Temple Bar on a
Sunday morning? The place stinks of every excrement possible."
This was part of my response to Al C O'Holic which I had emailed to "Metro". In case he/she doesn't know that every fifth person in this country is obese (and these are the figures of 2000). Or in case he/she is not aware of the fact that Ireland has the highest level in EU in terms of binge drinking. It is not shamrocks or leprechauns in Ireland anymore. It is broken pint glasses on Grafton street and the smell of puke and piss in the city centre 24/7. Celtic tiger is getting wasted. Slainte.
By the way, for the likes of Al C O'Holic I highly suggest visiting Denmark. For pure educational purpose.
Labels: Binge drinking, Celtic Tiger, Culture, Denmark, Ireland, Ireland: in depth, Irish: bad habbits
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The sad thing is that this massive drinking is a relatively recent phenomenon that has been invented by the likes of Guinness and the marketing of the ersatz Irish Pub abroad.
As recently as 1968, 52% of Irish adults were teetotal, and in my own family, most of those on my mother's side have never touched a drop in their life.
I find it frustrating in France that people - most of whom know nothing about Ireland beyond a handful of clichés culled from rugby weekends, Hollywood movies and the odd trip to an Irish pub - instantly evoke the mercurial drunk. It's an easy way not to take someone seriously. And, don't get me wrong, I like drinking but it is depressing how so many Irish people have being conned into believing that it has been an integral part of our culture for centuries. But then, many Irish people have only a patchy knowledge much of their own history.
I like your blog, I'll be reading again. :)
Thanks for such comprehensive comments Seanachie! I envy you Paris...
Irish people don't go to Temple Bar.