Thoughts from the Island

What the hell is going on?

So there were 700 arrests on St. Patricks Day in Ireland.

When did St. Patricks day become a free for all? Was I away when that was decided?

I have heard a number of personal accounts of aggressive, pissed up youths aggressively accosting innocent bystanders in different parts of Dublin in pubs, at bus stops and in the streets.

What's going on here? Who are these people?

I have typically always laughed at the sensationalist news reports about underage drinking. I mean it's nothing new. Back in the 80's we were all drinking "dolly mixtures" out of sodastream bottles. So underage drinking is hardly a new phenomenon. What's changed is the attitude.

The 'ole Celtic Tiger has a lot to answer for. When my peers were drinking, it was a secretive exercise. We drank in parks, fell about the place and hid in the bushes if we heard anyone coming. We'd shove half a packet of mints into our gobs on the way home and go straight to bed. On one occasion I remember about fifteen of us hiding in the bushes when we saw some people approaching in the distance, it turned out they were two children.

These days the brash new youth seem very happy to drink in the open. Instead of trying to hide the fact that they're drunk they wear it as a badge of honour.

I'm not sure if the problem is with the parents or the society or both. But something is going to have to give.....

posted by Tom Murphy @ 8:48 AM