Pictured highlighting the dangers of mixing alcohol with water based activities are Phil Hogan TD, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Fionnuala Sheehan, CEO, drinkaware.ie and Bundoran surfer Richie Fitzgerald.
Picture by Shane O’Neill / Fennell Photography
Copyright 2013
The June Bank Holiday is nearly upon us, and it looks like it is going to be a scorcher!
It’s the perfect time of year to head for the beaches, rivers and lakes, but drinkaware.ie would like everyone to keep in mind the potential dangers of mixing alcohol with swimming, as nearly a third of all drownings are related to alcohol in some way.
Chief Executive of drinkaware.ie, Fionnuala Sheehan commented, “The June bank holiday weekend is a very popular time for people to visit their local beach, river or lake, with many going for a swim or participating in water sports. drinkaware.ie is encouraging everyone to remember that alcohol and swimming are not a good mix.”
A key factor in keeping safe is understanding what a standard drink actually amounts to, and how long before it has left your body: “There is approximately one standard drink in a glass – not a pint – of beer, lager, or cider; a small glass of wine; or a single pub-measure of spirits. On average, it takes about an hour for the body to process a standard drink. If you’ve had a few drinks and plan to go out on or into the water, then we would encourage you to do the maths and hold off until the alcohol is gone from your system.”
If you are planning on spending time on or near water, this warning is just as important as those that we are all aware of: “This isn’t a message just for when you’re getting behind the wheel of a car; it’s equally dangerous to get involved in activities like surfing, sailing, jet-skiing, or swimming if you’ve got any alcohol in your system – even from the night before.”
By Aimée Mac Leod
