SDLP Health Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has said awareness needs to be raised of the pitfalls of alcohol misuse and abuse.
He made his comments following the figures released that show that the number of alcohol-related deaths in North of Ireland is the highest on record,
The Foyle MLA said: “The recent figures surrounding alcohol-related deaths here are extremely concerning.
“Alcohol misuse has been identified as a significant public health and social issue in the North of Ireland over many years but the fact that alcohol-related deaths are at an all-time high, highlights the glaring failures within our health service.
“These statistics serve as a stark reminder of the crippling effects of alcohol on individuals, families and society in the North of Ireland.
“Sadly, we see the cost of alcohol abuse and addiction everyday: the cost to individuals’ health; the huge financial cost to our struggling health service; and the massive societal, human cost of family breakdown and even homelessness.
“We as a society need to wake up to alcoholism in the city and our ‘drinking culture’. People need to challenge their perceptions of what alcoholism looks like – in many cases it is hidden behind closed doors.
“We need to promote safe drinking and raise awareness of the pitfalls of not drinking sensibly.
“Political parties here had all agreed on the benefits of minimum unit pricing however, in the absence of an Assembly this cannot be progressed.”
