‘Beer goggles’ show the public what alcohol does to the body
By Mary Dennehy
AHEAD of St Patrick’s Day, the Tallaght Drugs and Alcohol Task Force (TDATF) took to The Square to provide people with information on alcohol – and to see for themselves, through the use of ‘beer goggles’, the effects different levels of alcohol can have.
In 2014, the TDATF added alcohol to its remit, a move that reflected the longstanding work of community drugs projects in the area – which have been dealing with the issue of alcohol in relation to poly-drug use for many years.
As part of their work around alcohol, the task force took to The Square on Wednesday, March 15, to interact with members of the public and provide them with information on the impact that alcohol has on the body, what a measure is, and where to go for services, advice or support around alcohol-related issues.
Grace Hill, TDATF co-ordinator, told The Echo: “We interacted with members of the general public, with a lot of people not knowing what a measure of alcohol is.
“Our aim is to make Tallaght a healthier place and we’re trying to encourage people of all ages to look at their alcohol consumption and attitudes.
“We’re trying to get people to look at the acceptability of alcohol, it’s so acceptable in Irish society and it’s important that we look at the message we are sending to younger people too.”
One of the tools used by the task force to engage with members of the public, was their ‘beer goggles’ – glasses which visually show how the mind is altered when a person takes alcohol.
Information was also handed out and anybody who wanted further advice was directed to local services.
Ms Hill said: “It’s all about changing our mindset – parents play a huge role in this.
“Over the St Patrick’s weekend, we’d encourage people to know their limits and be aware of measurements.
“We’d also encourage young people not to go out on their own and be aware of what they’re drinking.”
She added: “If you think about it, St Patrick’s Day is a family day and it doesn’t have to revolve around alcohol.”
For further information on services and supports in relation to alcohol locally, visit www.tallaghtdatf.ie
