This week I sit down with Dr. Sheila Gilheany, CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland, an influential voice in alcohol policy advocacy. We chat about the profound implications of alcohol consumption on both individual health and societal well-being. Dr. Gilheany shares startling statistics on alcohol-related harm, including the staggering number of children affected by parental drinking. We discuss how marketing and societal norms perpetuate hazardous drinking habits, leaving many unaware of the risks associated with even moderate consumption. This episode is packed with startling statistics that you cannot ever unlearn. Enjoy!

Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) is a non-governmental organisation which acts as an expert independent voice for policy change on alcohol-related issues. Over many years it has been highly active in ensuring the successful passage of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018, the first legislation in Ireland to take a public health approach to the control of alcohol consumption with measures such as Minimum Unit Pricing, restrictions on advertising and labelling of alcohol products. AAI is now working to ensure the full implementation of the Act as well as advocating for a range of other policies in areas such as children who have grown up with alcohol harm in the home though its Silent Voices initiative. Throughout all its work, AAI aim to bring the lived experience of those harmed by alcohol into the policy making space, e.g. through its Voices of Recovery initiative.

Sheila joined AAI in 2019 and has extensive experience in policy development and advocacy. She has led a range of not-for-profit organisations in science, education and public engagement including the Institute of Physics in Ireland and the Irish Centre for Talented Youth. She also has a number of volunteer positions including, Chair of the Board of Specialisterne Ireland, Vice Chair of Mental Health Reform and Treasurer/Board member of the European alliance of alcohol policy NGOs, Eurocare. She has a BSc Hons in physics and a PhD in astrophysics from Queen’s University Belfast.