On the wall of a well-known Irish pub - "Johnny Fox's Establishment" - a "local" record is recorded, but no less valuable for most visitors. "From 5 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Monday," the inscription reads, "Dubliners drink 19,800 pints (1 pint - 0.57 liters) of beer per hour."
However, another "drinking" achievement of the Irish did make it into the Guinness Book of Records - alcohol consumption in the country has grown by 50% over the past ten years. By this indicator per capita, Ireland has long surpassed France and Italy and today ranks second in the world, closely approaching the leader - tiny Luxembourg.
"Ireland represents one of the most attractive markets for us - thanks to the numerous young people who spend most of their salary in the country's 10,000 pubs," says the marketing director of a well-known beer company.
The figures cited by the government to prove the necessity of the law are impressive: at the age of 12 to 14, every fifth teenager drinks regularly, at 15 - every second, and at 16, every third respondent gets blind drunk at least three times a month.
The World Health Organization, relying on data from sociological research, states that in most countries with high alcohol consumption, each subsequent generation starts drinking at an earlier age than their parents did. Young Irish people are no exception. However, they choose not Pepsi or even the usual beer, but the colorful alcoholic cocktail "Premix" that is fashionable among young people today.
On weekends, drunkenness as a "national pastime" covers the entire country - half of all doctor visits on these days are related to excessive alcohol consumption. "Instead of treating really sick people, we waste a lot of time providing assistance to drunks who are brought back to us a week later. And every hospital bed costs the taxpayer no small amount," complains nurse Linda Caulfield, who works in one of Dublin's hospitals.
Ireland spends 2.4 billion euros annually on restoring the health of citizens affected by excessive alcohol consumption - approximately 2% of gross domestic product. Meanwhile, the country ranks one of the last places in Europe in terms of the number of medical workers per capita. (For comparison: in Ireland there are 22 doctors per 10,000 residents, and in France - 30.) About 20% of medical school graduates do not work in their specialty. They can be understood - who likes constantly dealing with drunk compatriots? The shortage of staff has led to the appearance of "waiting lists" in Irish hospitals. The queue to a surgeon, for example, can be from 6 months to 5 years.
It would seem that the way out - increasing health care spending - suggests itself. But instead of the additional tax that would have been obvious in such a situation for many left-wing governments, the country's leadership unexpectedly "went on the warpath", supporting anti-alcohol measures that are unpopular with the majority of the population.
Under the new law - if, of course, it is adopted - pubs will close an hour earlier on Thursdays than before, bartenders will be prohibited from selling alcohol to persons under 18 years of age (young people will be required to present identification), and access of minors to drinking establishments will be completely prohibited after 8 p.m.
However, saving the nation from drunkenness may prove to be too much for the government. In a country where sponsors of almost all sporting events are producers and sellers of alcohol, the local beer brand "Guinness" has become part of the tourism business, and deputies and entrepreneurs hold business meetings in pubs, it is difficult to count on public support for anti-alcohol initiatives.