20-yr-old Patrick Mungovan believes Ireland’s drinking culture is excessive and completely out of control and it needs to change to prevent more deaths.
Patrick’s brother Stephen died after he accidentally fell off a cliff near the Spanish Point in Co Clare in October, 2015 in a drink-related tragedy.
Stephen’s body was found in the sea three days later.
Patrick took to Facebook this weekend in a bid to warn revellers about the consequences of binge drinking.
“Well let me tell you, unfortunately, you don’t realise the dangers of alcohol until it comes knocking on your door!
“I unfortunately lost my twin brother last October and it’s about time people need to know the effects that alcohol has on families.
“Alcohol is the most dangerous drug that we have and nobody realises that.
“Drinking excess alcohol does such damage that it causes all sorts of problems like fighting and sometimes can be fatal. It can cause cirrhosis of the liver, cancer, birth defects, to mention a few!
“I know that I have been often out drinking all day and for many days on end, but it’s about time that people realise the damage that is being done to families. Drinking too much causes relationship troubles, etc.
“Alcohol is responsible for 88 deaths every month in Ireland. That’s over 1,000 deaths per year. Liver disease rates are increasing rapidly in Ireland and the greatest level of increase is among 15-34 year olds, who historically had the lowest rates of liver disease.”
“We live in a country where drinking to a stage that we don’t know where we are has become the normal thing to do and it is getting out of hand.
“I have seen various photos and statuses praising the Irish for their drinking, I think that should shame us as a country to believe it’s funny and true.”, he concluded
The incredible message has since gone viral on social media.