On several occasions over the years, I've surprised people I've been speaking to (both at home and abroad) by telling them that 22% of Irish people don't drink at all.
I remember reading the statistic in a report some years ago, and it stuck in my mind.
I suspect that this statistic no longer holds true. The Pioneer Total Abstinence Association, the most (only?) high profile organisation for non-drinkers, has seen a virtual collapse in its membership in the past few decades. When juveniles and the elderly are excluded, their membership numbers are unfortunately very low.
I suspect that this statistic no longer holds true. The Pioneer Total Abstinence Association, the most (only?) high profile organisation for non-drinkers, has seen a virtual collapse in its membership in the past few decades. When juveniles and the elderly are excluded, their membership numbers are unfortunately very low.
Why would the majority of non-drinkers want to join an association that 'seeks to address alcohol-related problems in society, mainly through prayer, self-denial'??? Only Catholics need apply, and you need to commit to recite the Pioneer's Prayer twice daily! Ireland has moved on from those days.
Moved on from what? Is becoming a Pioneer a bad thing? Or does any mention of any catholic organisation now warrant the 'Ireland has moved on' response?Why would the majority of non-drinkers want to join an association that 'seeks to address alcohol-related problems in society, mainly through prayer, self-denial'??? Only Catholics need apply, and you need to commit to recite the Pioneer's Prayer twice daily! Ireland has moved on from those days.
I don't think anyone ever said that the Pioneers' decline turned us into a nation of winos. I still contend that it had some correlation with the % of teetotallers in the country, which is where the Pioneers came into the discussion.The organisation just went out of fashion. It doesn't prove Ireland has turned into a nation of raging alcoholics.
Although the Pioneer TAA is a Catholic organisation, it is and was predominantly a social organisation, not a religious one.
Despite what their website says it still seems to be predominantly a social organisation, for example they seem to run a lot more talent competitions and quizzes than Masses or prayer services. That said, I haven't been a member since I was a juvenile so maybe I don't know enough about them to comment definitively. Anyway debating the exact nature of the PTAA is well off topic.How can you say it's not a religious organisation? They state their primary focus is to 'address alcohol-related problems in society mainly through prayeron prayer'! To join you must agree to recite their prayer daily? If that isn't a religious organisation....
why are we all so hung up about alcohol anyway, we are irish after all and as a race we have always liked out drink. there are far bigger problems facing us than alcohol!
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