ALCOHOL AND
YOUNG TRAVELLERS
Alcohol is a drink that comes in many different bottles, colours, tastes and looks.
- Because they are interested in how they will feel or want to try it
- Other Travellers they hang around with drink or have tried alcohol
- To help them cope or if they are feeling down, stressed, anxious and angry
- Because they like the feeling from alcohol – calm, excited, having energy etc
- To feel more confident
- Boredom
- May be addicted to alcohol
People under the age of 18
People on certain types of medication or those who have certain medical conditions
People who are recovering from being an alcoholic or those cannot control their drinking
Pregnant women / women who think they might be pregnant
(if you are struggling with alcohol use and are thinking you might be pregnant talk to your doctor)
People who are planning to drive or operate machinery
This means it can affect your brain and memory.
Using alcohol can also affect your mood and how you think.
It is illegal:
- for you to buy or be caught with alcohol
- to get someone else to buy alcohol for you (If you are caught, both of you can get in a lot of trouble.)
If you are over 18 and decide to drink, there are weekly low risk alcohol guidelines which are:
- Women should have no more than 11 standard (average sized) drinks a week
- Men should have no more than 17 standard (average sized) drinks a week
- You should drink no more than 6 standard (average sized) drinks in one sitting – this means that you should spread out how much you drink over a couple of days
- You should have at least 3 days alcohol free days every week
Keeping within these limits reduces the risk of alcohol related problems.
What is a standard drink?
A standard drink of alcohol is not the same as one drink – this is because one drink can have more/or less alcohol in it depending on what it is and the size of it.
An example of standard drink is:
What does a standard drink look like?
Binge drinking means drinking a lot of alcohol in a short period of time or drinking to ‘get drunk’. You should
not have more than 6 standard drinks of alcohol in one sitting (if you are under 18 this is even less).
- Injury
- It can affect your mental health
- It can affect your physical health such as high blood pressure, increased risk of heart attack and it can make your breathing slower
- It can get you in trouble with the Gardaí
- Doing or saying things you will regret
- You might forget / have a ‘blackout’ or even pass out
There is no safe amount of alcohol to drink but the less you drink the less harmful it is.
- Memory and concentration problems
- Personality changes
- Mood changes
- Long term effects of heavy alcohol use/ abuse include – Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar, Schizophrenia and Korsakoff syndrome (a type of dementia brought on by chronic alcohol use)
- Am I drinking to change my mood?
- Am I happy or worried about my alcohol use?
- Am I drinking more than usual?
- Do I need more alcohol to feel the way I want to?
- Do I spend a lot of time thinking about drinking?
- Is my alcohol use starting to affect my family relationships or how I get on with other Travellers?
- Has my alcohol use made me moody, quiet, start fights, sad or am I hanging around with different Travellers that I would not usually hang around with?
- Am I having money issues like getting into debt?
- Have a couple of alcohol-free days each week
- Do not buy loads of alcohol as you are more likely to drink more
- Do not ‘free pour’ your drink – always measure out your drink so you know how much you are drinking
- Order small bottles, half pints or single measures
- Spread your drinks out over a period of time – for example one an hour and drink water in between
- Keep fit
Start with a plan - why do you want to stop and what will be the best way for you?
Have a support system – friends, family, a counsellor
Keep fit – join a sports team
In the early days avoid places where there will be alcohol
If you go somewhere where there is alcohol/people drinking have an exit plan – plan a time and why you are going to leave somewhere and stick to it
There are services available for Travellers who are concerned about their drinking or would like to talk to someone about how to reduce or stop.
You can always link in with
your local Traveller organisation
or Traveller Primary Health
Care Project.
Always call 
Talk to your GP for more information.Under 18s
HSE Drug and Alcohol Helpline 1800 459 459
Email [email protected]
Contact your local under 18 addiction service – services.drugs.ie
Text PAVEE to 50808
Over 18s
HSE Drug and Alcohol Helpline 1800 459 459
Email [email protected]
