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THE WORLD HEALTH Organisation (WHO) has said that they did not mean to “single out Ireland” after facing backlash to an alcohol awareness post shared to social media on St Patrick’s Day.
In the post on X, shared by WHO Europe on Monday, an Irish-themed matcha was described as “a fun alternative to the St Patrick’s Day beer”.
WHO Europe said that the drink was “an opportunity to reflect on the role of alcohol in our lives”.
“Alcohol can seem like part of the adventure, but what if the real adventure begins with less?” they added.
A link was also shared to a video made by WHO Europe featuring two Irish men, Johnny Coyne and Daniel Pryce Williams, describing how they overcame problems with alcohol.
A fun alternative to the St Patrick's Day beer!
— WHO/Europe (@WHO_Europe) March 17, 2025
And an opportunity to reflect on the role of alcohol in our lives.
Alcohol can seem like part of the adventure.
But what if the real adventure begins with less?
Watch Johnny and Daniel's 🇮🇪 story: https://t.co/O0ABq1W4j1 https://t.co/CKaUAS9dnx
A number of replies on X described the statement as “patronising”, stating that the post implied a link between Ireland and alcohol.
David McRedmond, CEO of An Post, said in a reply on X that the post was “racist” and that an “apology is in order” from the WHO.
In a statement today, WHO Europe said that the content was shared to remind people that alcohol is not an obligatory part of cultural celebrations, but one of many choices to mark important occasions.
“It was not meant to single out Ireland nor link the country to problems with alcohol,” a WHO Europe spokesperson said.
The spokesperson explained that the WHO European Region (in which Ireland is a Member State) has the highest rates of alcohol consumption of all six WHO regions globally, with adults consuming an average of 9 litres of pure alcohol per year.
“Ireland recognizes this fact, and is leading the way in alcohol-related harm reduction by becoming the first EU country to introduce comprehensive health labelling on alcohol products from 2026 onwards,” the WHO spokesperson added.
Ireland ranks sixth in total alcohol consumption by adults in Europe, with the average Irish person drinking 12.7 litres annually.
The spokesperson explained that their social media post used the occasion of St Patrick’s Day to “share Johnny and Daniel’s story as an inspiring example of how young Irish people are leading the way” in changing attitudes towards alcohol across Europe.
“It takes courage to overcome the peer pressure associated with alcohol use regardless of one’s national identity,” they said.
I always thought this was the one that will have him eating porridge.
@ggg:
@ggg:
@ggg: yup. Of all of the cases against him this is the most likely to end up with a prison sentence. Easy to prove and automatic prison time.
They are really pushing for civil war over there! the democratics want to be careful what they wish for.
Where’s the charges for the people who repressed the hunter Biden laptop fiasco, and lying calling it a “Russian misinformation” all in the run up too the last election because it would have been detrimental impact on Biden campaign! Election meddling at its finest by the democratics and intelligence services..
@I9AQcjXs: Are you saying that Republicans aren’t democratic?
@I9AQcjXs: it’s not the democrats prosecuting him. Hunter biden is a private citizen and a republican led oversight commitee has admitted there is nothing illegal on the laptop. It is a nothing burger, as they say. If this is election meddling, what do you call trump asking georgia to ‘find’ 11k votes?
@I9AQcjXs: so Trump shouldn’t have to abide by the law because it might offend some of his lunatic supporters? Also you are way behind the time regarding Hunters laptop which even the GOP say is a nothing burger. Not to mention that he isn’t running for public office and never has. But you know who was running for office? Hillary Clinton, when her email story was announced the week before the election. But you’re not interested in facts are you? That’s why you didn’t know that the Laptop story has been done to death and proven to be much ado about nothing.
I’m not a supporter of trump but the alleged crimes committed in 2016 and 2020 are coming to the forefront now with prosecutions. He could have been prosecuted at the time but all this coming up now when he is running for election shows a pure political motivation to these allegations.
@Ciaran: can’t prosecute a sitting president, he was in office between those years. Also this particular offence didn’t happen until the end of 2020. Prosecutions in the USA take as long as they do here.
Finally an article on Niall Collins but surprise surprise, comments once again closed. Why do the journal feel he needs protecting from criticism or questions? None of this debacle is before the courts yet. Cowardly journal staff.
@ggg: Their website. Their terms and conditions. Their legal liability for content, including comments posted. I’m sure Their are plenty of forums on which you could comment online about that news story.
@Numinous20111: what legal liability? Nothing is before the courts. I’m thinking you may not know what legal liability is my friend.
@ggg: It’s commonsense, not cowardice. We have strong libel laws in Ireland and the commentators on here aren’t exactly known for their ability to fact check what they’re posting.
@The Big Baba: I can’t reply directly to ggg, so have to reply by means of your own comment. In your eagerness to comment, you are forgetting
or ignoring that comments here can be retrospectively relevant if legal process commences. Think also of why Fox News fired Carlson yesterday.
The amount of sad deluded people that refuse to accept how the lying treacherous orange thing is playing them for every penny he can.
@Gearoid MacEachaidh: nothing burger”
have your say