Arthur’s Day began in Ireland in 2009 to mark 250 years since Arthur Guinness first set up the Guinness brewery in Dublin. According to the Guinness company, Arthur’s Day is a ‘remarkable celebration of those who make things happen!’ It is marketed as a salute to Ireland and all things Irish. In fact, it is simply a clever marketing ploy to encourage people to drink!

It is a fact that drinking is part of the Irish culture. According to the Irish Health Research Board, 85% of Irish people think that the current level of alcohol consumption in Ireland is too high. In fact, there is growing critisism of Arthur’s Day and many people in Ireland are opposed to it. There is no doubt that Guinness is one of Ireland’s biggest exports, and the Guinness Brewery is Ireland’s most popular tourist destination. But there is something distasteful about a drinks giant like Diageo promoting its own alcoholic beverage in this way, particularly in light of the following statistics from Alcohol Ireland:

• 8 deaths per month in Ireland are due to alcohol
• 1,200 cases of cancer result from alcohol each year in Ireland
• One in four deaths of young men aged 15-39 in Ireland is due to alcohol
• One in three road crash deaths in Ireland is alcohol-related

So, isn’t it time Diageo seriously examined alcohol abuse in Ireland and the misery it causes? Maybe then they would think twice about hosting Arthur’s Day next year.

All Resources has produced a resource pack for schools and youth organisations on the dangers of alcohol. Called ‘Dealing with Addiction’, the pack provides essential information about drinking, smoking & drugs and encourages young people to make informed choices.