Start the Conversation will hear first from a range of national and local experts on the changing nature of Irish women’s drinking habits, the specific impact that alcohol has on women’s health and relationships, and the risks and misunderstandings that can be associated with drinking during pregnancy.  This will be followed by an open forum for all to join in a lively chat on “All things women and alcohol.”

The seminar is one of the highlight events of the Western Region Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week and takes place next Tuesday, November 10 at GMIT [St. Mary’s Hall] from 9.15am to 1pm.

The statistics on women and alcohol in Ireland are sobering.  A higher proportion of Irish women drink compared with women in other European countries (77 per cent compared to 68 per cent ). Four out of ten Irish women drinkers report harmful drinking patterns – which means they are drinking at a level damaging to their health

Since 1995, Irish teenage girls have been drinking as much and sometimes more than their male counterparts.  A recent international study has found that 80 per cent of women in Ireland drink at some point in their pregnancy compared to 65 per cent in the UK, 38 per cent in Australia and 65 per cent in New Zealand.

Family support and training development worker with the Western Region Drugs Task Force, Debbie McDonagh, will be one of the speakers at the seminar. “It is worth starting an honest conversation with ourselves and with our friends and loved ones about what we are drinking, why we are drinking, and if there is another way that we as women in Mayo can celebrate or reward ourselves. The reality is that Irish women have a changing and worrying relationship with alcohol. Alcohol has a very specific and serious impact on women’s health and wellbeing, our relationships, families and children. The aim of the seminar is to start of an open, lively and ongoing conversation about how we can ensure that women and girls have a safer and healthier relationship with alcohol in their lives.”