There is an interesting item in the vintners' magazine Licensing world, which links elderly suicides to pub closures. The journal states that "Leading medical experts are now linking the increasing rate of suicide among elderly irish people, especially those living in country communities, with the demise of the rural pub and the resulting social isolation currently taking hold of rural ireland." The article goes on to say that the damage done by the sense of social isolation is made worse by unregulated solo alcohol consumption at home.
Mind you, some observers of rural life would probably tell you that there was no shortage of depression in past decades when pubs were aplenty, but it must be conceded that the rise in suicides is worrying. Many of Dublin's outer suburban areas are also outside walking distance from pubs, so such patterns may become visible in the commuter belt as well.
In any case, the article is on pp12-13 of the March 2008 issue of Licensing world, in Cathal Brugha St Library.
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I always said that anti-smokers were causing a 'hidden holocaust', yet no-one would listen. They've already used lies and appalling, emotional propoganda to brainwash the effects of passive smoking onto our citizens. This it their trump card now in my opinion. I know this may sound awful, but I have first hand experience of how smokers now feel as I associate amongst them.
They'll not stop the lies until they've killed them all off. It's disgusting. The anti-smokers aren't alarmed though; they're rubbing their hands with glee. Disgusting I say, particularly as it was supposed to be in the name of public health.
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